Tyre spiking on R80 in Gauteng: Motorist and passenger shot

Police say a motorist and passenger were shot and injured after their vehicle’s tyre was punctured in a spiking incident on the Mabopane Highway (R80).

According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk, the incident happened on Wednesday evening at around 19:40.

Van Dyk says the driver and the three passengers of a white BMW stopped and were changing the tire. Three unknown men approached them under the pretense of wanting to assist. The men said they had a car jack.

The three men suddenly pulled out a firearm and started to shoot.

“They shot one passenger in the stomach, and the driver was shot in the leg.”

Police say the armed men searched the car and the victims and stole valuable items, including sneakers, cellphones, and a disclosed amount of cash.

The victims were forced into their own vehicle before the armed men fled the scene.

They managed to drive to the Engen fuel station at Eskia Mphahlele, where they contacted the police and ambulance.

Van Dyk said the injured victims were rushed to the Steve Biko Academic Hospital.

Police are investigating a case of armed robbery and attempted murder.

Separate but similar incident

On the same night, motorists also reported stones packed on the R80 under the Hendrik Street bridge.

According to the CPF Sector, 4, a motorist was changing his tyre when he was robbed of his mobile phone, shoes, and wallet.

It was also three armed men. They tied the victim up before they fled in the direction of Sarel Ave.

Motorists have been warned not to relax and let their guard down on the Mabopane Highway around the Theo Martins Poort mountains.

Spikes or other objects are being placed on public roads by criminals to force motorists to stop to attend to their vehicles. The motorists are then violently attacked, carjacked, robbed, assaulted, and murdered.

Motorists are advised not to stop when they hit a spike or experience a tyre puncture, especially at night, and should continue to drive slowly to the nearest garage or police station.

Spiking incidents are prone to take place on weekends and in the evenings. 

Hotspot areas

Here are the identified hotspots in and around Pretoria:

• The R21, between OR Tambo International Airport; 
•  N4 towards Pretoria, Donkerhoek area
• The R562, Olifantsfontein;
• N3, Leondale and Barry Marais;
• N17, between Rondebult and Heidelberg Road 

Previously, these areas and roads were targeted: 

• The N4 to Rustenburg between R80 Mabopane Freeway and Brits Plaza tollgate.
• The N4 Mpumalanga to Pretoria between Solomon Mahlangu and Watermeyer off-ramp.
• The N4 Pretoria to Mpumalanga between Bronkhorstspruit and Balmoral off-ramp.
• Golden Highway.
• The N1 Polokwane N4 Mpumalanga interchange in Pretoria.

Meanwhile, on March 31, a man was robbed and fatally stabbed on the N4, east of Pretoria, after he pulled over to inspect the damage caused by an object to his tyres.