The hijacking of an SANDF sergeant in Olievenhoutbosch has raised suspicion of an inside job or corruption within the force.
The sergeant was believed to be responsible for the protection of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Olievenhoutbosch police spokesperson, Constable Kate Selepe the complainant had told the police that his five hijackers told him not to panic “as they were only after the fire arms and not him, and that if he had questions, he should ask his colleagues”.
The sergeant was in the area to pick up a colleague when he was surprised by the hijackers.
He was driving an unmarked BMW X6 hired in Durban for special covert operations.
But it was unclear in which capacity the sergeant protected Ramaphosa because Selepe included this line in her response: “The car was used by the SANDF Special Military Health Formation VIP Protection for high profile members of the ANC.”
Also read: Police warn of hijacking trend
The sergeant told the police he was carrying three R5 rifles, a 9mm pistol, two Browning automatic rifles and ammunition and the required permits in a bag – all of which were taken.
With the aid of the tracking company, the a white BMW with the number plate ND 845661 was recovered by the Benoni Flying squad in Daveyton around 02:30 on Sunday.
An R5 rifle with 68 rounds, 4 × R5 mags, 1× 9mm pistol with 1extra magazine 30 rounds were also recovered in the vehicle.
But the government has not been forthcoming with information with Presidency spokesperson Tyrone Seale saying the Presidency could not comment on police matters.
“The presidency won’t comment, but VIP protection services are deployed from the SANDF and the SAPS,” said Seale.
But SANDF spokesperson, Siphiwe Dlamini told Rekord a different a story.
“VIP protectors are deployed by the police, not the military,” said Dlamini.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo confirmed a hijacking, and that the victim was neither a member of the SAPS VIP protection unit nor SAPS presidential protection unit.
“As a rule we never disclose race, nationality or occupational class of suspects or victims and this is certainly no exception to that rule,” said Naidoo.
He said the investigation was at a very sensitive stage.
“We are at a very sensitive stage of this investigation and disclosing too much information may potentially be damaging to the investigation,” he said.
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