Just when believers who frequent the Olifants River for rituals were finally breathing a sigh of relief, a recent hijacking just served as a wake-up call.

Following seven violent hijacking sprees involving the river reported earlier this year, another incident occurred yesterday, sending shock waves to everyone who had believed the hijackings would stop after an arrest made by the police on June 13.

According to the police, a man said that he was at the river around 14:15 performing rituals with two of his friends when they were attacked by two men wearing balaclavas.

The men allegedly pointed a firearm at them and instructed them to lie on the ground.

After tying them up, the men forced the three friends into their vehicle and drove with them to the bushes, where they dropped them and started searching their pockets.

They found a cell phone and demanded a PIN to the banking app, fleeing the scene soon after in the victim’s Ford Ranger.

The friends eventually managed to untie themselves and walked to the police station, where they reported the matter.

Fortunately, the vehicle was later recovered, and one of the suspects was arrested.

Captain Eddie Hall from Witbank SAPS urges people to stay away from the river and be very wary if they really must go, because criminals rob them easily there.

“We received a lot of hijacking cases involving the same river this year, so we strongly discourage people from going there. If there are rituals you really need to do, at least find safer spaces and still practise extra caution because criminals are everywhere,” Hall said.

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