A hijacked truck was recovered with its driver tied up with ropes and wires in Delmas on Wednesday 19 October 2022.
According to information at police’s disposal, the truck was allegedly hijacked in North West province.
A 47-year-old truck driver was transporting maize shipment from Lichtenburg and en-route to Randfontein in Gauteng when it was hijacked by bogus traffic officials.
The lucky driver was rescued when police and members of the private vehicle recovery team were on their way to recover another truck which was hijacked in a separate scene at the R50 road from Delmas to Bapsfontein.
Whilst busy on the scene, a report of another possible hijacked truck was received and it was reported that the truck is driving on the same route.
Police waited for the truck and attempts of stopping it became futile as the hijackers never responded to the police directives.
A chase ensured and police had to use tactical methods to bring it to standstill.
Three possible suspects alighted from the truck and tried to escape, but one suspect aged 47 was shot at and apprehend. The other two suspects managed to escape.
The injured suspect was taken to hospital for medical attention under police guard. He has since been discharged and is expected to appear before Delmas Magistrate’s Court.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela commended the dedication displayed by men and women in blue. The General added that Mpumalanga is committed to zero tolerance when it comes to hijackings and other violent crimes.
