Mongezi Phike (5), who was kidnapped on Thursday when his father was brutally assaulted and left for dead during a hijacking in Bronkhorstspruit, was found unharmed, police said. 

“He was found unharmed in Johannesburg on Sunday. The hijacked car has not been found and no arrests have been made yet as police are still investigating the matter,” said police spokesperson, Captain Sarah Mcira. 

It was reported that the boy and his father were in their car at an intersection in Masada, Bronkhorstspruit when four men approached them, two of which were armed. 

“The men were armed with firearms and hijacked the man and the child. They took them to Zithobeni, an informal settlement, where they allegedly assaulted the man very badly,” said police spokesperson, Captain Marissa Van der Merwe. 

The father was tied up with wire while his head was covered with a plastic bag and tape wrapped around his neck. He was left for dead. 

The police said that the father was dragged back into the car after the assault in Zithobeni and was dumped on the side of the road. “After the assault, the hijackers allegedly took the father and dropped him on the side of the road before fleeing with the vehicle and the five-year-old still in the car,” said Van der Merwe. 

The father was reportedly found at a construction site. His ID, wallet, credit cards and phone were also taken by the hijackers.

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