A MASSIVE manhunt by police has led to the arrest of three men after a 72-year-old businessman was hijacked and robbed at gunpoint in Upper Melville, Madlala last Thursday.
The man was driving home from work when he was ambushed by five men.
“The man was ordered out of the vehicle at gunpoint,” said police spokesman Captain Vincent Pandarum.
“He was left stranded on the roadside as the five suspects drove off in his car which contained a substantial amount of cash that the businessman was going to pay out to his staff as wages,” said Capt Pandarum.
The vehicle was later found overturned a short distance away on the road to Fairview Mission.
Police recovered the 9mm pistol allegedly used by the suspect in the hijacking. However, the suspects managed to get away with the money.
Officers of the Port Shepstone K9 Unit, tactical response unit (TRT), crime intelligence and the Southport SAPS, as well as the local farm security, joined forces to mount a massive manhunt for the suspects.
Last Saturday Southport detectives arrested Thembalethu Xulu (40) of Injambili ward, Madlala.
“Further investigations resulted in the recovery of R12 700 at Mr Xulu’s friend’s house. A second suspect, Bheki Sifiso Ndlovu (36), was also arrested at the house,” said Captain Pandarum.
Investigations also led police to King Edward Hospital in Durban where a third suspect was arrested.
The man had been admitted to hospital for medical attention to his leg which he broke when the hijacked vehicle crashed during their getaway.
An amount of R16 100 was also recovered from an acquaintance he had left the money with for safekeeping. He was discharged from hospital on Tuesday this week and appeared in court yesterday (Wednesday).
Meanwhile, Mr Xulu and Mr Ndlovu appeared in the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The case was postponed to October 23 for a formal bail application. They remain in custody.
Police are now searching for the two other suspects who are on the run.
“Due to the diligence and hard work of the officers involved, three men are in custody,” said Major General Thembi Ndlovu.
“The officers worked tirelessly around the clock to ensure that they cracked this case. I commend them for their sterling efforts,” she said.
The vehicle was taken to the police vehicle pound for forensic investigation purposes while the recovered firearm has been forwarded to the ballistics unit at the SAPS forensic science laboratory for tests.
