Member of Tshwane Metro police appeared in court in connection with a hijacking case

A Tshwane Metro Police member by the name of Hennie Mabasa (36) appeared at the Delmas Magistrate’s Court today, 17 January 2025 after being arrested in connection with a hijacking case that occurred in Sundra on 15 January 2025.

It is alleged that in the early hours of the said day, at about 02h00 early hours in the morning two employees (driver and crew) of a certain courier company were in Sundra, driving along the N12 Road in a Mitsubishi bakkie. The two were escorting two company trucks. Both employees were reportedly armed.

A VW Golf 7 is said to have emerged from behind with its siren on and flashing blue lights (placed on the vehicle’s dashboard).

The bakkie (Mitsubishi) was then pulled over and forced to stop. When the driver of the bakkie went out of the vehicle, he met four people, including one female dressed in Metro Police uniform.

It was during this time when the driver was ordered to produce a driver’s licence, and after realizing that he was armed, he was also asked for a firearm as well as its licence. His crew was also asked for the firearm licence.

After disarming the two men, the four suspects then reportedly held their victims at gunpoint and ordered them to lie down in front of the VW Golf.

One of the victims, the crew was held by one suspect inside the Mitsubishi bakkie whilst the other victim, the driver was taken to the VW Golf.

The (arrested) suspect drove around with the driver of the bakkie in a VW Golf then dropped him off at Nel Street in Sundra whilst the crew was left by the other suspect next to the R42 Road without the vehicles key.

The crew then somehow managed to contact his employer who came and picked him and later the crew and his employer spotted the said VW Golf stuck in the mud somewhere in Delmas. Other security companies were then summoned to come and help.

The suspect, who was driving the VW Golf reportedly claimed that he was lost then also changed his story later to say that he was hijacked.

Surprisingly, when he saw a Police vehicle approaching, he (arrested suspect) tried to evade the arrest but he was shortly caught. It was during this time when he was apprehended.

The suspect’s fellows are still at large and are sought by the Police. The items reportedly stolen from the Mitsubishi bakkie as well as a rifle with 30 rounds, and a pistol with 15 rounds have not yet been recovered as well.

The member of the Metro Police remained in custody and the court postponed the case to 23 January 2025 where he is expected to make a formal bail application.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi has commended law enforcement agencies for their swift response which resulted in the arrest of the suspect. “We have been working hard to deal with robberies involving the use of blue lights. We had worrying incidents whereby courier company cars and tourists were robbed of their belongings by unknown suspects using similar modus operandi. We trust that by this arrest, unresolved cases will be resolved,” said the General.

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