A prominent Ladysmith businessman was recently hijacked near Ladysmith.
The man, who asked to remain anonymous, is still in shock after his traumatic ordeal.
He told the Gazette that he had travelled to Estcourt on a business trip, alone. On his way back to Ladysmith, driving a Toyota Corolla, he was boxed in by two vehicles on a bridge 10km outside Estcourt.
One of the vehicles, a VW Polo, screeched to a halt in front of him, while a Corsa bakkie blocked his escape as it pulled in behind him.
Three occupants of the VW Polo leapt out brandishing firearms.
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They approached his car and demanded money, to which he replied that he did not have any cash on him.
One of the robbers barked an order for him to get out of his vehicle. He recalls how absolutely terrified he was as he opened the door. As it opened, one of the hijackers reached into the car and physically dragged him out.
They continued screaming that they wanted money and then realising he had none, they grabbed his cell-phone.
Despite the paralysing fear he felt, he maintained his wits, overhearing that they planned to load him into one of the vehicles. He knew that if this happened, he would never see his family again. As several vehicles whizzed past the hijacking scene, he realised the hijackers were distracted and in a desperate bid to survive, he broke free from his captors.
“I could see that the men were panicking as the cars passed,” recounts the businessman. “I knew if I wanted to live, I had to act.”
Caught by surprise, the hijackers scattered; one of them jumping into his vehicle as they all sped away, leaving the businessman standing at the side of the road, shocked, confused and all alone with no way of calling for help. A motorist who had pulled over at a distance when he saw what was happening approached the scared man after the hijackers had left.
The motorist brought the businessman back to Ladysmith, as he had no phone to contact anyone for help.
He immediately went to the Ladysmith police station and reported the hijacking. A case was opened by police.
“I am so glad I am safe and I am very thankful to the people who stopped to help me. May God bless you for your good hearts,” said the grateful resident.
This is the first time the businessman has been involved in a hijacking and says he will never forget the terrible ordeal.
“All I can do is thank God I survived.”
At the time of going to press, no arrests had been made.
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