Police arrest four after Uber driver kidnapped in Eldorado Park hijacking
An Uber driver was tied up and held hostage for hours before police and a tracking company recovered the vehicle and arrested four alleged hijackers.
Four suspects have been arrested in connection with an alleged carjacking, kidnapping and possession of a hijacked motor vehicle case in Eldorado Park.
The incident occurred on 19 March, at around 19:30, at the corner of Union and Buckingham Road.
An Uber driver, who had accepted a request from Ext 17, Eldorado Park, driving from Maponya, became the victim of a violent hijacking.
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According to a statement obtained by police from the driver, one male entered the car upon arrival, followed by two friends.
“One of them pointed a firearm at me and instructed me to get out. They tied my hands and legs with my shoelaces and forced me into the back of the vehicle,” reads the statement.
The suspects reportedly drove with the victim for approximately five hours before stopping next to a park.
They demanded that he contact the vehicle’s owner and requested R5 000 for his release, after which they left him tied up.
The victim managed to free himself and ran to the nearest house for help.
Police from Eldorado Park SAPS were immediately called, along with a vehicle tracking company.
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“The suspects were tracked quickly, and the vehicle was recovered with the alleged hijackers inside,” said Eldorado Park SAPS media liaison officer Sergeant Fezeka Khobo.
All suspects were detained at Eldorado Park SAPS cells, except the 17-year-old, who was held at Walter Sisulu Youth Centre.
They face charges of hijacking, possession of a hijacked vehicle, and kidnapping.
Police seized several items as evidence, including a cellphone valued at R4 000, a pair of takkies worth R800, a T-shirt priced at R250 and cash totalling R400.
