Looking down the barrel of a gun

On June 29, a driver was taking a power nap next to the Pretoria highway, hoping to refresh himself and rejuvenate his spirits for the last leg of his journey when suddenly he was awoken by the sound of someone trying to open the truck’s door.

“I immediately sat upright, but just as I turned to look what was going on outside, the window shattered and there were little glass crystals everywhere.”

Two unknown men wielding handguns demanded that the driver hand over his cellphone and cash, to which he complied.

“I am just grateful they didn’t shoot at me,” concluded the driver.

On June 19, a good Samaritan was driving around Klipfontein when he offered a lift to a haggard looking man next to the side of the road who had said that he was on his way to Ackerville.

The good Samaritan loaded him into his passenger side, and they headed off.

“The guy wasn’t in the car very long before he started hinting he wanted to stop somewhere before we got to Ackerville. Eventually I just told him that it was fine – and he directed me to a place he said was his brother’s flat. Once we got there, the gate opened and two other men came out. They also got in the car and pointed a revolver at my head. It was immediately apparent that these two strange men and the haggard stranger were in cahoots with each other. They told me to drive, and I did. They took me to an ATM at a filling station and told me to withdraw money for them or they would kill me,” explained the good Samaritan, “What can you do? I drew the money and gave it to them. They then told me to lie down at the foot-well at the back of the car. I did so. I must have laid there for about an hour, but as soon as I was dead sure that they were gone, I got up and went to look for help.”

A case of robbery with a firearm has been opened in each of these instances, though no suspects have been identified as of yet.

Should you have any information pertaining to these terrifying crimes, kindly contact Witbank SAPS on 013 655 5052.