NELSPRUIT – Middleburg Flying Squad foiled a planned hijacking when a 37-year-old on duty Tshwane metro police Constable and his two accomplices aged 33 and 34 year old were arrested for allegedly conspiring to hijack the truck believed to have been carrying a lot of stock.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the arrest was carried out on the N4 around Phola, in Ogies between the Petro Port and Arbor off-ramp.
Flying Squad Members who were patrolling the area yesterday Wednesday 02 August 2023 at about 14:00 noticed a suspicious looking white Toyota Corolla fitted with Gauteng registration plates parked at a strategic position.
Members approached the vehicle for investigation that is when a male person wearing Tshwane Metro Police uniform, armed with a side firearm alighted from the vehicle.
Read | Truckers, motorists warned of blue light hijackers on N12, R28, R559 and N14
He allegedly introduced himself as a Constable from Tshwane Metro.
Police then ordered the other occupants to alight from the vehicle, that is when the driver who was in civilian clothing alighted also armed with a handgun.
He could neither produce the firearm licence nor the permit to possess a firearm.
The third occupant alighted and he was also wearing full Tshwane Metro police uniform without a firearm.
When asked if he is also the member of the Tshwane Metro Police, he denied citing that he was borrowed the uniform by his accomplice.
On further investigation it was uncovered that the vehicle they were using was reportedly hijacked in Daveyton and it was robbed from the owner.
Police further recovered two Network jamming devices, an eight channel as well as 20 channel jammers.
When police interviewed the suspects, it was established that there was another vehicle in the vicinity which sped off after realising that their team members were in hot waters, hence their motive was revealed that their mission was to hijack a truck.
The trio were arrested and charged with possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, possession of Jamming Network devices, possession of stolen motor vehicle and impersonating a police officials.
They are expected to appear in Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court today Thursday, 03 August 2023.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has welcomed the arrest of the suspects and urged members not to partake in criminal activities.
“It is really frustrating when some of our security cluster members are the ones working against us. It is really unacceptable that a Metro Police member can leave his municipality jurisdiction, crosses the provincial border to commit crime in Mpumalanga,” concluded the General.
