A shootout between police and the four suspects ensued before they were apprehended yesterday morning in Gauteng. The suspects were found with a hijacked Isuzu truck transporting cartons of cigarettes.
It is reported that the truck was allegedly hijacked earlier at approximately 09:00 in the Free State Province.
Gauteng’s SAPS spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo stated that police were informed about the hijacking via the tracker unit after it was indicated that the truck was travelling on the R59 freeway towards Vereeniging instead of going to East London.
“Officers from Sasolburg K9, National Intelligence Unit, Vanderbijlpark Task Team, Vereeniging Crime Prevention, Viljoensdrift Detective and Task Team operationalised the information and pursued the hijacked truck, intercepting the suspects near Escort-on-Vaal off-ramp on the R59,” informed Masondo.
Masondo added that a shootout ensued between the suspects and police. “Three suspects were arrested and detained at a local police station, while the fourth suspect who was injured was rushed to hospital where he is kept under police guard.”
The truck driver was later found on the back seat tied with cables. Police also found an undisclosed amount of money and the cargo of cigarettes.
“Investigations are underway to establish if these suspects are not linked to other cases of truck hijackings,” noted Masondo.
The four suspects will be charged with hijacking, possession of a hijacked vehicle and attempted murder.
