POLOKWANE – Attempted hijackings in and around the city have been a hot topic of discussion in social media over the past week.
In one of the most recent incidents, which occurred just outside the city on the Modjadjiskloof road, Lionel Butler was reportedly brutally attacked after his vehicle was forced off the road.
According to Butler, even though he was being brutally beaten by seven men, he still fought on to prevent them from gaining access to his vehicle.
He said he did not know why his attackers suddenly gave up and left, but he thought it was because they could not get hold of his car.
Butler said he had not yet reported the incident to the police as he had been injured so badly, that he was unable to leave his bed. At the time of going to print yesterday (Wednesday), Butler indicated that he intended to report the incident to the police by the end of the day.
In another incident, Melani Delport had a close escape on Saturday when she stopped for a red traffic light at the intersection of Veldspaat and Landdros Maré Street. “A vehicle parked in front of me, started to reverse and stood skew in the lane. Two men got out of the vehicle suddenly and started walking quickly towards my car.
“I suspected a hijacking and managed to quickly turn my vehicle into the other lane and sped past them, almost hitting the one man who tried to get into the path of my vehicle.
“I drove to the police station but by that time the men were long gone, and in my haste, I had not taken their registration number,” she said, adding that she did not know what model vehicle it had been.
“I can only recall that it was a silver sedan,” she said.
The police in the province have warned motorists to be alert of their surroundings at all times in order to lessen their chances of becoming victims.
Polokwane police spokesperson WO Lesiba Ramoshaba said it was of the utmost importance that people reported attempted hijackings.
