Police believe they prevented a truck hijacking in Mpumalanga after a Tshwane traffic officer and two of his accomplices were arrested by the Middelburg flying squad on Thursday.

The trio was arrested on the N4 near Phola in Ogies between the petro port and Arbor off-ramp.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala says the trio was allegedly plotting to hijack a truck believed to have been ferrying undisclosed goods.

“Flying squad members who were patrolling the area noticed a suspicious vehicle with a Gauteng registration plate parked at a strategic location.

“When the members approached the vehicle to investigate, a man wearing a Tshwane metro police uniform, armed with a firearm alighted the vehicle,” Mohlala says.

He says upon investigation, the members discovered that the vehicle the suspect was driving was hijacked in Daveyton.

Among other things, police found two cellphone network jamming devices.

“When police interviewed the suspects, it was revealed that there was another vehicle in the vicinity which sped off after realising that their team members were in hot water. Their motive was revealed. Their mission was to hijack a truck.”

The three suspects were charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, possession of network jamming devices, possession of a stolen vehicle and impersonating a police officer.

Gauteng MMC for community safety Grandi Theunissen says his department was working with law enforcement agencies on the matter.

“The department has since confirmed that one of the arrested individuals is indeed employed by the City as a TMPD (Tshwane Metro Police Department) constable and all necessary processes are underway to assist the police,” says Theunissen.

He says it is saddening to find a sworn officer who’s expected to uphold the law on the opposite side.

“It is disheartening, that those that have sworn an oath to uphold the law are being caught out blatantly breaking it. I have previously said that cleaning up TMPD is a process that will take time.”