Applicants of United Kingdom visas were left feeling vulnerable after their documents were stolen during a hijacking last week.
Travel agency, Sure Travel Scene, told the NEWS its clients were affected by the incident.
“Our clients’ visas were already approved and were on the way back to us. Now the problem is that whoever has those passports has a valid visa to travel to the UK and that is worrying,” said a representative of the company.
She said although their clients were told to get new passports, depending on how long before the Department of Home Affairs could issue the new passport, they might need to reapply for visas.
She said the clients were concerned about their personal information being in the hands of criminals.
“This includes banking details,” said the representative.
The bakkie in question was hijacked in Bedfordview last Monday.
According to the spokesperson for the Bedfordview SAPS, Sergeant Mduduzi Nhlabathi, three men stopped the bakkie and asked the driver to exit the vehicle.
“They told him they wanted to check the car’s licence disc. One of the men was reported to be wearing a full uniform belonging to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD),” said Sgt Nhlabathi.
He said the men held up the driver, drove off with him and dropped him off in Midrand.
The bakkie was recovered in Kempton Park, but without the documents.
At the time of going to press, a manhunt for the suspects was still on and, according to Sgt Nhlabathi, police investigations are still underway.
