Media Statement from North West Media Centre
Corporate Communication
South African Police Service
Potchefstroom: In a joint effort to reduce the level of serious crimes, the North West and Northern Cape police arrested two suspects aged 35 and 38 years for hijacking and kidnapping.
The arrest emanated from a hijacking and kidnapping incident that took place on Sunday, 12 November 2017. It is alleged that the victim, a 38-year-old man, was driving in his vehicle from Kuruman to Kathu when he stopped close to Kuruman to offer a lift to hitch-hikers. After driving a short distance, the hitch-hikers allegedly pointed the driver with a firearm, tied him up and placed him inside the boot.
The suspects allegedly robbed him of his personal items, including a cell phone, before they released him during the night in Taung. The victim was forced to walk in the veld not knowing the place trying to get assistance. The suspects allegedly met and picked the victim up early in the morning of Monday, 13 November 2017, and later handed him his vehicle back, before fleeing the scene. The victim drove to a filling station in Taung, where the police was contacted for assistance.
An intelligence driven operation was launched in Taung in conjunction with Mahikeng Highway Patrol and the JTG Cluster Trio Task Team that led to the arrest of one suspect the same day, Monday, 13 November 2017. The suspect is expected to appear in the Kuruman Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday, 15 November 2017) for hijacking and kidnapping.
A second suspect (age 38) was traced and also arrested by police in the early hours of today (Wednesday, 15 November 2017). He will be appearing in the Hartswater Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 16 November 2017. Further probe revealed that the suspect is linked to a case of armed robbery in Jan Kempdorp and another armed robbery case in Taung. The police seized a CZ pistol during the arrest.
The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane expressed her appreciation about the cooperation between the North West and Northern Cape Police that led to these arrests. She said the arrest will send a clear message that cross border crime will not be tolerated.
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