Mandeni businessman hijacked, taken for a ride from hell
A lucky set of circumstances saved three people who were hijacked and kidnapped last night.
A Mandeni businessman and two female employees were chased down and hijacked near the Isithebe industrial district last night by a group of armed men in a silver Polo.
They were forced to go along with the car before fortune smiled on them and they made a lucky escape.
According to IPSS Security Mandeni’s operations manager, Phumlani Vuzi, shortly before 7pm last night they began receiving calls from a client who was being followed – and later chased – by a suspicious silver Polo.
“We sent a response unit and then tried to call the client back – but his phone went straight to voicemail,” said Vuzi.
Together with locals from Mandeni Business Against Crime, IPSS began the hunt for the Polo and the victim’s white Audi.
Mandeni Business against Crime manager, Steve Fox told The Courier that they issued a BOLO (be on the look out) alert for the vehicles.
With input from various local WhatsApp groups and the like, the hijackers were tracked down on their way to Gingindlovu.
However, there was a surprise waiting for the hijackers.
Slightly earlier in the day, an accident on the way to Gingindlovu meant that police were on the side of the road.
The men in the Polo unfortunately drove on – but the hijackers in the Audi were less confident.
“They must have thought we had set up a road block to catch them,” said Vuzi.
The two hijackers in the Audi stopped the car and hot-footed it into the sugarcane plantations, leaving behind the traumatised businessman and his two employees.
“We tried to give chase after the two men who fled into the sugarcane,” Vuzi said, “but it soon became dark and we lost all trace of them.”
Fortunately the three victims were unharmed, though understandably shaken by the affair.
IPSS personnel contacted their families and stayed to guard the vehicle and provide comfort.
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