Update: 9-year-old boy rescued, hijackers to appear in court

Police have officially released information concerning Wednesday’s (December 14) hijacking ordeal in which a 9-year-old boy was still in the car with the hijackers.

Two suspects, aged 19 and 23 years old, are set to appear in the Mooi River Magistrate’s Court on Monday following their arrest yesterday (Wednesday, December 14) in Estcourt for carjacking.

Yesterday, at about 12.30pm, a 45-year-old man, his wife and two children were in their vehicle and driving along at Giant’s Castle in the Mooi River area when they were suddenly forced to stop due to rocks and tree branches blocking the road.

As the father got out of the vehicle to clear the road, two men armed with a firearm, knives and a hammer accosted the family.

The suspects climbed into the car and drove around with the family until late afternoon when they stopped at a garage in Lyell Street, Ladysmith. There, the family had an opportunity to escape from the vehicle. However, the 9-year-old boy was not successful in the escape.

The suspects sped off in the vehicle with the child still inside.

Police and traffic officers were alerted to the incident, while Secure SA broadcast the details of the vehicle to members of the public.

A member of the public managed to keep an eye on the movements of the vehicle. Police personnel from various police stations in the area, together with traffic officers and members of the public, gave chase.

A short while later, the vehicle was boxed in along the N3 at the Wagendrift turn-off, Estcourt.

The joint actions of all those involved resulted in the rescue of the child, the arrest of the two suspects and the recovery of the vehicle.

Inside the vehicle, police discovered two knives, a hammer and a firearm which was found to be a toy gun. The child was treated by medics and reunited with his family.

The case will be investigated by Mooi River SAPS.

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Major General Bheki Langa praised police and members of the community for swiftly responding to the complaint and arresting the suspects. “Our detectives will ensure that they bring all evidence to court so that the suspects will be prosecuted and receive a sentence they deserve,” he said.