Members of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga are looking for six men who allegedly disarmed Security Guards of their firearms and hijacked a truck on the N12 national road between, Blesbokfontein and Kendal off-ramp at Phola, near Witbank in the early hours of 17 October 2019.
Information at police disposal revealed that two vehicles from G4S Security, were escorting the truck from Benoni when they noticed two white Audi Sedans with unknown registration numbers. The occupants suddenly opened fire on the guards. One of the security vehicles was shot on the rear right wheel tyre where after it came to a standstill.
Four men armed with rifles appeared and disarmed the Guards of their pistols. They also took their cellphones as well as a camera before pursuing the other Guards’ vehicle and the truck.
The suspects continued firing shots towards the other security vehicle until it came to a halt too. They (suspects) then disarmed one of the Guards of his firearm. It is alleged that the driver of the second escort vehicle managed to flee the scene on foot but was later found dead in the bushes not far from the scene, having sustained a gunshot wound.
The truck was also forced to a halt where both the truck driver and the passenger were forced into the suspects’ vehicles and drove with them for a while and later dropped them off along the road. It is alleged that the truck was carrying silver containers with boxes of cellphones and was abandoned just before the N4 road.
Two containers were cut open, emptied and a third one opened but only half the load was taken.
A case docket for armed robbery has been opened but no arrest has been made as yet. Anyone with information that may assist police in tracing the suspects is urged to contact the Phola Branch Commander, Captain Akim Mbewe on 082 318 9873 or the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
