Picture: The blood stains in the alleged hijacked truck/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
29 September 2024– A suspect, who was arrested for allegedly being involved in truck hijackings, set to appear in Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on 28 September 2024. The suspect was arrested by the Stilfontein K9 members who were on patrol.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said the initial reports indicated that on Saturday afternoon, the police allegedly saw that an Isuzu truck was losing its cargo, which consisted of a variety of alcohol products. Myburgh said the truck was driven in Davill Sreet in Walkerville, Klerksdorp.
“The police allegedly pulled the truck over, when the driver and passenger allegedly jumped out and ran away. The police caught the driver of the truck and seized two firearms, of which one was a toy gun.
“He was immediately arrested as he did not have a
licence to possess a firearm. Upon further investigation, blood was found in the driver’s side of the truck and other police units were alerted,” she said.
Myburgh further said the members of Potchefstroom Flying Squad found an injured man later at a local hospital in Klerksdorp, who was shot in the upper body. She added that it was alleged that an Uber driver, who noticed the injured man next to the road in Manzil Park, rushed him to the local hospital.
“Upon interviewing the man, he alleged that he was driving an Isuzu truck on the R30 road between Klerksdorp and Ventersdorp, when he was allegedly stopped by suspects in two vehicles about 15km from Ventersdorp.
“He tried to escape, but was shot and placed in the back of a vehicle and dropped-off later in Manzil Park. The suspect, who is estimated to be in his 30’s, will appear before the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday, for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, attempted murder and for being in possession of suspected stolen property,” said Myburgh.
She said the police investigations are continuing and linkages to more cases cannot be ruled out.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the police for their attentiveness and teamwork, that led to this success. Kwena also commended the Uber diver for rescuing the injured truck driver and said police will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the perpetrators face the full might of the law.
The Guardian 