Delmas Police nab hijacker
Upon stopping, the hitchhiker, whom was seated behind the driver, began to strangle him while the other tied him up with shoelaces.
The police arrested an alleged hijacker in Delmas after a truck driver was tied and left on the bed inside his truck.
The alleged hijacker was arrested on Monday, January 24.
According to information, the truck was heading from Ermelo towards Delmas when the driver stopped and offered a lift to a woman and two men who were hitchhiking.
The truck driver apparently dropped the woman off at the Botleng Mall on the R42 and then continued his journey.
In a media statement released on Tuesday, January 25, Brig Selvy Mohlala, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Police, stated that one of the hitchhikers then urged the driver to stop at the side of the road.
Upon stopping, the hitchhiker, who was seated behind the driver, began to strangle him while the other tied him up with shoelaces.
The two hitchhikers then carried the driver to the bed in the back of the truck’s cabin and covered him with blankets. They drove off with the truck.
Moments later, the police stopped the truck and instructed the hitchhikers to climb out of the vehicle.
According to the police, the one suspect seated in the passenger’s seat, immediately jumped from the truck and ran away.
The second suspect untied driver of the truck. The police then instructed both of them to lie down.
After establishing that the truck had been hijacked, the suspect was arrested.
According to Brig Mohlala, the suspect is expected to appear in court soon.
“The provincial commissioner, Lieut-Gen Semakaleng Manamela, applauded the members for their vigilance which led to the swift arrest,” Brig Mohlala said.
