Taxi hijacked, suspects arrested

It was alleged a taxi driver, who was transporting passengers in Lamontville yesterday, was approached by three suspects, who held him at gunpoint and drove with the taxi towards Umbumbulu, KwaZulu-Natal.

Police said while in Umbumbulu, the suspects had taken cash, cellphones and audio devices from the hijacked taxi.

They had fled the scene and boarded another taxi travelling towards Isipingo, police added.

It was believed Umbumbulu police who were patrolling the area had been stopped and informed about the matter.

The taxi the suspects had boarded had been spotted in the area and searched, police said.

Police added three suspects who fit the same description given to the members had been arrested, and they had been found in possession of goods taken during the hijacking.

An unlicensed .38 revolver with three live rounds was also recovered.

The recovered firearm will be sent for ballistics tests to establish if it had been used in any other crimes in the country.

KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the good work by the officers in their response to the hijacking.

The suspects, aged between 20 and 22, will appear in the Durban Magistrates’ Court on January 26 to face charges of hijacking and the possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Last week, six men who allegedly hijacked a KwaZulu-Natal cab driver were remanded in police custody for further investigation.

It was alleged the suspects had requested the services of the taxi, which was supposed to take them to Archery Road in Clairwood.

The unsuspecting driver reportedly drove them to their destination, and upon arrival, one of the suspects tasered the driver and demanded he hand over the vehicle.

The driver refused to surrender the vehicle and decided to drive off with the armed robbers inside.

After the vehicle against a stationary truck, the robbers were detained by witnesses before they could escape.

– Caxton News Service