Two suspects, aged 24 and 35 were arrested and are due to appear before the Moretele Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 25 October 2019, on charges of car hijacking, pointing of firearm and kidnapping.
The suspects were arrested Wednesday 23 October 2019 at about 14:00 in Mmekwa section, Makapanstad after a shootout with the police who spotted them driving a vehicle suspected to be high jacked from Soshanguve.
Acting Spokesperson of the Brits Cluster Command, Ms Maria Nkabinde said the police in Hammanskraal in collaboration with a Car Tracker company followed up on information on a silver Toyota Corolla Conquest that was allegedly hijacked at Soshanguve on the same day.
She said it is alleged that the vehicle was spotted, parked outside a local tavern at a car wash in Mmekwa Section. Upon the arrival of the police at the car wash, three suspects in possession of firearms allegedly alighted the vehicle and started to shoot at the police and the police returned fire injuring one of the suspects on the upper body who was apprehended and transported to the hospital where he was later discharged and detained.
“The second suspect was apprehended and a cell phone and bank card, belonging to the victim, was recovered including the alleged hijacked vehicle that was also seized.
Ms Nkabinde said during the shootout with the police, one of the suspects allegedly grabbed a male victim standing next to him and pointed him with a firearm threatening to shoot him. The police intervened and the victim was released unharmed.
The Cluster Commander of Brits, Major General Modisagaarekwe Mosimanegape, lauded the police for their unwavering efforts in ensuring that perpetrators of vehicle-related crimes are brought to book.
