Motorists robbed in spiking incident on N4
Four spiking incidents were reported on Sunday, however only one motorist and his passengers were robbed.
Motorists are advised to exercise extreme caution on the highways at night, following recent spiking incidents on the N4 east after Simon Vermooten, near Libertus Bridge in the east of Pretoria.
According to the Alpha Security Forum (ASF), four spiking incidents were reported on Sunday night, however, only one motorist and his passengers were robbed.
These dangerous road traps involved the use of rocks and other hazards to target unsuspecting drivers.
Aris Ruyter from the ASF said motorists need to remain alert at all times.
He said after 20:30, a rock was placed on the N4 East, just after Simon Vermooten near Libertus Bridge.
“This attack led to four motorists striking the obstructions but the driver and passengers of one vehicle were then robbed of their valuables after stopping to assess the damage to the vehicle.”
Ruyter urged motorists not to stop after hitting an object on the road, especially at night.
“If you hit an object or believe your vehicle has been spiked, do not stop immediately. Continue driving until your vehicle can no longer move, then request help. Stopping could put you and your passengers at risk.”
He said emergency responders and private security firms, including Brinant, Lakes, TLG, and Bidvest, arrived at the scene and searched the area but no suspect was found.
“The Lakes Security Forum co-ordinated response efforts and Alpha Security Forum will assist with future operations to counter this growing threat.”
Ruyter added that a key challenge remains the availability of resources for conducting night operations.
“While security forums are actively working on strategies, public co-operation is essential. The sooner incidents are reported, the faster responders can be deployed.”
He said for future incidents, it is critical that the public report rock placements immediately to emergency services and local security forums to ensure a rapid response.
Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk said no case has been reported to police.
Van Dyk offered these safety tips:
– Do not drive unnecessarily at night.
– Do proper route planning.
– Inform family members and friends about which route and your travel arrangements.
– Trust your gut feeling.
– If you are a victim of spiking, do not stop alongside the road to change your tyre, rather drive slowly to a safe place.
Current hotspots of spiking in and around Pretoria:
– N4 West in Akasia to Brits
– N4 East to Bronkhorstspruit
– N1 from Midrand to Carousel Plaza
– Ben Schoeman Road from Midrand to Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre
– N1 South from Naturena to Vaal River.
– R80 Mabopane Freeway from Eskia Mphahlele Road to Soshanguve
Organisations urged the public to follow these important safety measures to protect themselves from spiking incidents:
– Do not stop your vehicle under any circumstances after an incident where the tyres, windscreen or other parts have been damaged. Continue driving as far as possible until you reach a safe destination.
– Contact local neighbourhood watch groups, security companies or emergency services as soon as possible to report the incident. Provide detailed information about the object used in the trap and its location to help prevent further attacks on other motorists.
– Ensure your phone is fully charged before embarking on your journey.
– Share your location with loved ones, especially when travelling alone.
– Stay alert and develop the habit of scanning the road ahead for potential threats, suspicious objects or individuals next to the road.
– Store emergency contact numbers of local emergency services, neighbourhood watches or security companies on your phone.
– Consider installing an emergency response app, such as AfriForum’s free 911 panic button app, available on the Google Play Store (for Android devices) and the App Store (for iOS devices).
Warning: Rock Placement on N4 East, Pretoria.
A dangerous incident has been reported at 20:58 on the N4 East, just after Simon Vermooten, near Libertus Bridge: Positive rock placement/vehicle spiking has occurred, resulting in a motorist hitting the rocks and subsequently…
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) March 16, 2025
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