Caption; The alleged hijacked vehicle recovered by police
By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe and Kopano Dibakwane
A 48 year-old suspect was apprehended by the Nelspruit SAPS Flying Squad following a hijacking and kidnapping incident on Sunday 22 September.
This daring operation reportedly unfolded when the Flying Squad team, which was doing routine patrol duties on the N4, received information from a tracking company about a hijacked vehicle with a kidnapped victim on board.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, said the South African Police Service(SAPS) team followed information received from the tracking experts and located the said hijacked car in Kabokweni.
He said the SAPS team closed in and three suspects fled the scene, but police managed to rescue the victim who was found with his hands tied up.
“ The team searched the surrounding areas in the bushes, cornered one suspect and arrested. The suspect was reportedly found with the victim’s cellphone in his possession,” said Mdhluli.
According to Mdhluli, the suspect faces multiple charges, including car hijacking, kidnapping, and robbery. He is reportedly expected to appear in the Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court soon, and the search for his alleged accomplices is underway.
In a separate incident, the police in Vosman (Emalahleni) are reportedly investigating a hijacking and robbery that resulted in murder on Friday 20 September. A 45 year-old victim was reportedly fatally shot by hijackers, who fled the scene in his company car, a Toyota Hilux GD-6 club cab. The incident is said to have occurred along the roadside in Hlalanikahle near Vosman.
Major-General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, praised the swift response by the Kabokweni SAPS team and acknowledged the effective partnership between the police and the tracking company.
“ The police in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies are geared towards creating a crime-free environment in the province,” said the General.
