A 30-year-old man is expected to appear before the Sabie Magistrate’s Court today (Thursday, November 20) on charges of hijacking and robbery.
Members of the SAPS Flying Squad arrested the suspect in a plantation between Sabie and White River on Tuesday, November 18.

This follows an incident earlier that morning in which a group of armed suspects hijacked a delivery van transporting cigarettes at about 08:30.

“A white Kia overtook the Haval delivery van and suddenly stopped in front of it. Two males exited the Kia and pointed firearms at the occupants of the van. One suspect was armed with a pistol and the other with a rifle,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane.

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“The suspects ordered the victims to exit their vehicle and get into the Kia. They were then driven into a nearby plantation,” she said.
Once deep inside the plantation, the suspects allegedly told the victims to run and not look back. The victims found workers in the area and borrowed a cellphone to call for help.

According to Ndubane, vehicle tracking teams and the Flying Squad were activated. The hijacked vehicle was later found on the road between White River and Sabie. Officers also noticed tyre tracks leading into the plantation. They followed the tracks and discovered a Toyota Quantum loaded with stolen stock.
Law enforcement seized 28 boxes of cigarettes valued at R500 000, and one suspect was arrested. An unknown number of accomplices fled the scene.
SAPS urged anyone with information that may assist in tracing the remaining suspects to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the My SAPS app.