A dramatic police and private security operation led to the arrest of three men and the recovery of a hijacked school taxi in Upper Tongaat this morning, August 6.

The incident began in Blackburn, where a 43-year-old driver on his way to collect schoolchildren had his path blocked by two men on a dirt road.

A third man allegedly emerged from nearby sugarcane fields wielding a dagger and forced the driver into the back of the car.

The men allegedly assaulted him and tied him up before fleeing in the hijacked VW Crafter. Fortunately, no children had been picked up at the time of the hijacking.

At 8.24am, Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) received a tip-off from a concerned member of the public and immediately dispatched all available officers.

The taxi, fitted with a tracking device, was traced moving through Hambanathi and later spotted heading towards Esenembe on the R614.

RUSA officers, joined by Verulam Saps and multiple private security companies, intercepted the taxi at a petrol station in Upper Tongaat, where the men stopped to refuel.

The suspects were arrested just over 20 minutes after the hijacking took place.

Authorities praised the swift co-ordination between law enforcement and private security teams, which ensured the safe recovery of the vehicle and the driver.

RUSA spokesperson Prem Balram warned hijackings are on the rise and that criminals are changing their behaviour.

“We have noticed an increase in victims being taken with the vehicles,” said Balram.

“This is because it delays the victims from calling law enforcement or the tracking companies. They take the victims along before leaving them in an isolated area. By the time law enforcement finds the victims, the suspects are long gone.”

Balram said he has also noticed an increase in hijackings when the weather is poor or visibility is low.

“Rain and fog hamper the search helicopters, making it harder to locate the vehicles from above,” added Balram.

Investigations are ongoing.