An owner-driver and three employees were held captive at gunpoint for about two hours after armed suspects hijacked their Hino truck in Umbumbulu, KwaZulu-Natal.
The incident happened at about 17:00 on Thursday, shortly after the eThekwini-based owner-driver had delivered tiles to a residence in the Umbumbulu area.
According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the driver was confronted by seven armed men who blocked the truck’s path and produced firearms.
The driver was ordered out of the truck and allegedly forced into the rear of the vehicle with his three employees. One of the suspects then drove the hijacked truck towards an unidentified township.
During the journey, the suspects allegedly stopped at various locations, spoke to several people and picked up additional individuals.
The four victims were forced to lie face down in the rear of the truck as the journey continued.
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RUSA said the truck was eventually stripped while the victims were still inside. A tracking device was also removed from the vehicle.
In a disturbing development, the suspects allegedly found the owner’s medication inside the truck and handed it to him. They also allegedly told him that his insurance company would compensate him for the loss of the vehicle.
The four victims were eventually released at about 19:00 in Umlazi.
They reportedly borrowed a cellphone to contact their families, who then contacted RUSA for assistance.
Reaction officers travelled to Umlazi to locate the victims but were redirected to Umlazi Mega City after being informed that the four had been offered a lift to the shopping centre.
The victims were subsequently assisted, while the hijacked truck remains outstanding.
The stolen vehicle is described as a 2026-model white Hino, registration DM32PD-ZN.
The incident highlights the ongoing security risks faced by owner-drivers and delivery crews operating in KwaZulu-Natal, particularly when making deliveries into residential areas.
Anyone with information that could assist in locating the truck or identifying those responsible is urged to contact the relevant authorities.
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