Warning: Highway robbers’ latest modus operandi near Lebombo border

Fourteen men armed with guns, pangas and metal pipes robbed a bus full of passengers while it was stuck in heavy traffic on the N4 near the Lebombo border last Thursday evening, 11 May.

A Cheetah Express bus driver of 11 years, Nathi Mathebela, told Lowvelder that he was transporting 13 passengers to Mozambique at about 7pm when the bus came to a standstill due to a major backlog of traffic, mainly caused by trucks.

Sitting duck: Gang hits bus stuck in border traffic

While stuck in the unmoving traffic, 14 men — some armed with guns and others wielding pangas, knives and metal pipes — jumped out of nearby bushes and stormed the bus, according to Mathebela.

“One of the men pointed a gun at me through the window and demanded that I open the bus doors for them. Before I could do so, some of the men broke two of the windows.”

He said this forced him to open the bus doors, and the men climbed on board while others started approaching other vehicles stuck in the traffic to rob the occupants.

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Passengers rob of phones, laptops and valuables

“The robbers came on board and demanded phones, laptops and other valuables from the passengers. One of the men pointed a gun at a passenger sitting near the front, while the others told him to shoot and kill him. We both lifted our hands and said, ‘Please, no killing here.’ Luckily, they did not fire the gun,” he said.

Bus driver recounts harrowing ordeal at border

Mathebela said the gun was pointed at a second passenger, but fortunately, no one was physically harmed during the hold-up.

“It all happened so quickly. It was chaos. At one point, the men were telling me to get out of the bus.

“I think they wanted to drag me into the bushes, but because some of the others were busy robbing other cars, they just left me alone. I was able to get back onto the bus and we were eventually able to cross the border into Mozambique.”

He said there were no police or traffic officers in sight when the incident occurred, and that in his opinion, the robbery had happened because they were standing still in traffic.

Mathebela said he had never been robbed or attacked in his 11 years as a bus driver.

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Border bus robbery not isolated incident

Cheetah Express’s owner, Dino Palermo, said the company had been in operation since 2006, with him as owner since 2014, and an incident like this had never occurred before.

He said he had previously heard of robberies of vehicles taking place near the border. He said trucks blocking the flow of traffic towards the border is a massive issue that is ongoing.

“The lanes should not be allowed to be blocked. There should be two lanes for people to drive in and out of the border at all times,” he said.

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Police on high alert

Mathebela opened a case at the Komatipoort Police Station.

A provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, said a case of robbery is being investigated.

“The police, as well as other law enforcement agencies in Mpumalanga, are working to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are soon brought to book.

“Law enforcement agencies continue to monitor and conduct crime prevention activities around the area with the sole purpose of preventing similar incidents. The reported cases are being investigated to bring those responsible to justice.”

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Crime Stop number

He said that anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or send information via the My SAPS app.

“All received information will be treated as confidential.”

The Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison’s MEC, Vusi Shongwe, said it was not aware of the incident and will await a report from the police.

MEC on border security

Shongwe said the department and the security clusters are aware of the criminal activities that sometimes happen along the N4 toll road towards Komatipoort, particularly at night.

“Efforts are being made by all members of the security cluster to deal with this matter. As the MEC, I have persistently raised the issues of border security through forums such as MuniMEC, where all MECs for community safety from various provinces meet with the minister of police to discuss safety and security issues.”

Truck drivers blocking road an ongoing issue

Shongwe urged truck drivers to always obey the rules and refrain from blockading the road. He said no person should close the road even if law enforcement officers are not in sight.

He said issues with the Lebombo border and other borders are continuously on the radar, and are deliberated upon with a view of finding lasting solutions.

TRAC’s Solange Soares said it was aware of the ongoing issues of trucks blocking the road leading up to the Lebombo border. She said TRAC has no control or jurisdiction over the traffic on the road or criminal elements that operate along the route.

Reward offered

“We do, however, have a whistle-blowers’ hotline on which people can report criminal elements. We urge people to use this hotline should they spot any crimes committed along the N4. TRAC offers a financial reward to anyone whose information leads to a successful arrest and conviction.”

Edited by Cornelia le Roux.
This article originally appeared in Lowvelder and was republished with permission. Read the original article here.