Boy reunites with mom after hijackers drove off with him
A two-year-old boy has been found unharmed after two robbers allegedly shot his father and fled in the family’s vehicle, with the toddler still inside, in Tsakane, Brakpan, on the East Rand.
Police spokesperson, Captain Joep Joubert, said it is alleged at about 5pm on Friday, a man, 54, and his wife, 35, were busy loading goods into their bakkie in an open veld next to Tsakane Road. Their son, 2, was sitting in the bakkie when two armed suspects approached the vehicle, Brakpan Herald reported.
Joubert added the suspects got into the bakkie and when the father tried to open the driver’s door he was shot several times in the lower body. The suspects then fled the scene, taking the two-year-old with them.
The injured father was taken to hospital and is in a serious but stable condition.
“Police immediately started a search for the missing boy and the stolen bakkie. The boy was found at about 8.45pm, in Malaza Street, Tsakane, where he was allegedly dropped off. He was not injured and reunited with his anxious mother,” said Joubert.
No arrests have been made. Police investigations are ongoing.
In a separate incident, a 21-month-old boy who was taken during a hijacking in Booysens was found in Braamfontein, Gauteng. This after a Volkswagen Golf was hijacked in January and the gunmen drove off with the toddler inside, said Lieutenant Kay Makhubela.
Makhubela said a policeman had been patrolling Booysens when he saw two people running and gave chase. The pair overpowered the officer and shot him with his police-issued firearm, wounding him in the arm and stomach.
Makhubela said they drove off in the police van but soon afterwards abandoned it while still in Booysens. They then hijacked the Golf with the toddler inside.
“The Golf was found around two hours later [around 7pm] in Braamfontein… with the child inside,” he said.
The child was reunited with his family and taken for a medical check up.
– Caxton News Service
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