More hijackings reported in eMalahleni, against the backdrop of police statistics that indicate that hijackings are down in the area
Not a week goes by that hijackings are not reported at Witbank SAPS.
Following the front page article of the previous edition (‘SAPS catch hijackers in record time’ – Friday, October 6), two more hijackings were reported.
Again, police are warning motorists to be extra careful when they are travelling.
“We cannot stress the importance of being vigilant enough,” said police spokesperson Captain Eddie Hall.
Hall said that not a week goes by that a hijacking is not reported.
In the two most recent cases, a man was hijacked of his brother’s Ford Ranger and another of his Big Boy motorcycle.
The first hijacking occurred on September 28 at 16:40.
The driver of the bakkie told police he stopped on the R555 to give someone a lift when suddenly four men appeared from nowhere and allegedly attacked him.
The man told police that the attackers had taken his phone and accessed his cellphone banking app.
#sapsMP #SAPS in Mpumalanga appeals for public assistance to help locate these 4 men whom police believe can help solve cases of murder, kidnapping, robberies, car hijackings, ATM bombings, business burglaries, escape from lawful custody as well as other violent crimes.… pic.twitter.com/OKquTCzBUo
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) October 5, 2023
“The man was mistaken for a rich individual because of the bakkie he was driving. Much to the hijackers’ surprise, he did not have ‘millions’ in the bank. The victim said he was sprayed with pepper spray, strangled, tied up, and shoved into the back seat,” Hall said.
The man was later dropped off and managed to untie himself. He made his way to Pholosong Hospital in Tsakane in Gauteng.
Luckily, the bakkie was fitted with a tracker unit and was recovered close to Vosloorus on the R103.
In the second incident, a man was hijacked in Van Deventer Street on October 5.
He was on his way from work at 18:50 on his Big Boy motorbike and stopped to have a quick chat with a friend.
He told police two men came from nowhere and he heard a gun cock.
This he told police was followed by two shots. He and his friend ran for their lives. The motorbike has not been recovered yet.
WITBANK NEWS tried to speak to both victims but to no avail.
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