A man visiting Middelburg for work was robbed of his cellphone, wallet and Toyota Hilux bakkie in Rockdale on Wednesday, with the police confirming that a hijacking probe has been launched.

According to the victim, he travelled to Middelburg from KwaMhlanga for work and went to Rockdale shortly before 21:00 on Wednesday to collect some laundry.

He stopped near the gate of the property, but the gate was locked.

When he returned to his bakkie to phone the homeowner, there was a sudden knock at his window, and an armed man was standing next to his car door.

The armed man ordered the victim to unlock the door. The victim complied and was immediately pushed to the passenger side. The suspect then entered the bakkie.

Two additional suspects appeared. One climbed inside the bakkie, and the other man jumped onto the back.

The armed suspect told the victim they would not harm him and only wanted his cellphone and wallet.

The robbers decided to drive off with the terrified victim after enquiring who the bakkie belonged to.

The victim told them the bakkie was his, after which the robbers decided to steal the bakkie too.

They drove the victim to a bushy area on the Van Dyksdrift road and ordered him to lie down.

He was then ordered to open his banking app, with his account containing R20 000.

The robbers fled with the man’s cellphone and the open app in the victim’s bakkie.

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