Hijacked truck carrying groceries worth R1,2 million recovered

A group of 14 suspects were arrested in Randfontein in connection with the hijacking of a truck containing groceries worth an estimated R1,2 million over the weekend.

The truck in question was hijacked in Kagiso at about noon on Friday, November 11 and it was later discovered at the Masters plots in Randfontein at about 16:30.

Captain Eddie Boboko, West Rand District Police Spokesperson said they received information from a reliable source that there was a hijacked truck in Randfontein.

“The team immediately mobilised their resources. Supported by the West Rand Flying Squad they followed up on information and found a truck with two trailers at the Masters plots in Randfontein with suspects still busy offloading the load of groceries to the value of R1,2 million. Some of it had already been offloaded and put into a warehouse. A silver-grey Audi A4, still loaded with the groceries, was also found at the scene,” said Boboko who added that the items included cooking oil and rice.

He added that the victim and driver of the truck was allegedly hijacked by two men and one woman driving in a white Toyota Etios. They were all wearing police reflector jackets and armed with handguns. He was found dumped in Mohlakeng, Randfontein with minor injuries on the head.

Meanwhile, subsequent to this, the West Rand District Police Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana went on a pursuit of the other suspects, together with a team of his detectives and intelligence personnel among others. This resulted in the additional arrest of two suspects (foreign nationals) in Newlands, Johannesburg. More arrests are expected to follow.

All arrested suspects will appear in the different magistrate courts within the district.

They are believed to be a mix of nationalities including Mozambican, Zimbabwean, Bangladeshis and South African.