Believers performing rituals at the Olifants River remain a target following a recent tragic robbery incident that left a family devastated.

Adding to the increased number of cases involving the river, the police reported another disturbing incident that occurred on April 21 in the afternoon.

A family member confirmed that a man had gone with his mother and nephew to the Olifants River where they parked their bakkie and got off to pray.

After a while, the two returned to the bakkie while the man continued praying.

On his way back to the bakkie after praying, tragedy unfolded as he was attacked by two men allegedly armed with pistols, who tied them with cable ties and had them kidnapped for up to three hours.

The robbers fled with the man’s bakkie, their cellphones, and a watch which were all recovered minutes afterward as the bakkie crashed into a truck.

The truck driver, in whose truck the stolen Amarok bakkie smashed into, explained that the bakkie came flying from nowhere and didn’t even wait for the traffic lights to give him a right of way.

@witbanknews A truck and Amarok bakkie crashed on OR Tambo Road in eMalahleni. No one was injured.#crash #truck #Amarok #ORTambo #Witbank #Emalahleni #WitbankNews #headlines #traffic #accident #noinjury #road ♬ original sound – witbanknews

The victim was too distraught to speak to WITBANK NEWS.

The police continue to urge the public to always be vigilant as they carry out their cultural activities at the river.

“People who go to the river to do rituals, especially at Olifants River, are advised to go in groups as individuals are constantly targeted by two male suspects,” police spokesperson Captain Eddie Hall said.

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