Victim burned in his vehicle after activating anti-hijacking during robbery in KZN
A group of ruthless hijackers burned a vehicle and its driver after he activated the vehicle’s anti-hijacking system in Mount Moreland near Verulam in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday night.
The victim, a 53-year-old man, suffered burns to his arm and face. A Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) officer patrolling the area discovered the Ford Ranger bakkie ablaze and immediately called for help from the Ethekwini Fire Department.
Upon arrival, firefighters extinguished the flames, but the driver was nowhere to be found.
Further investigation revealed that the victim was hijacked by four men in a white VW Golf while en route to Sibaya Casino from Waterloo.
Read also: Driver arrested as dashcam reveals he faked his own hijacking
“Three of the suspects, armed with firearms, approached his vehicle, while the fourth remained in the getaway car,” said RUSA’s Pram Balram.
“The man activated a security device that limited the fuel supply to the bakkie, but the hijackers forced him into the back of the vehicle and drove towards Umdloti,” he added.
As the bakkie ran low on fuel near the Mount Moreland entrance, the hijackers turned off the main road and drove a short distance down an unpaved path.
The hijackers allegedly robbed him of his cash, poured an accelerant over the bakkie, and set it on fire before fleeing in the VW Golf.
“The victim managed to escape the burning vehicle and roll on the grass to put out the flames that had spread to his clothes.”
“He contacted a family member from his concealed cellphone before being taken to Verulam SAPS and then a medical facility for treatment of burns to his lips, face, and arms,” reported Balram.
