At about 2.30pm two men were sitting in their car in Clairwood when they were approached by three others. The trio attempted to start up a conversation with them before one forced open the driver’s door and forced the driver out at gunpoint.
The car’s passenger managed to escape as the hijackers reversed the car. The three men, two of them armed, raced off with one pointing a gun back at the two men. One of the victims fired two shots at the speeding car, hitting it in the boot and the rear window.
Through police communications, Umlazi K9 unit members Constable Musa Khanyile, Warrant Officer Gregory Strydom and canine Molly heard that the hijacked vehicle had been abandoned along Gwala Road in Lamontville. They headed to the scene where they met up with Brighton Beach SAPS’ Warrant Officer Marius Van Der Looy.
Cst Khanyile and Molly searched around the vehicle for a spoor, which they quickly found leading towards ‘Tin Town’, a grouping of tin houses. Through information he received from informers, W/O Van Der Looy was able to pinpoint a possible structure concealing the men, which was confirmed by Molly.
Cst Khanyile called out in three languages for them to hand themselves over but received no response. He forced the door open with his boot and they entered. Inside, Molly found a man attempting to flee through a back window but she pounced and pulled him to the ground, allowing Cst Khanyile and W/O Strydom to arrest him.
A search of the house produced a firearm from under a bed and blood-stained clothing in a dustbin. The man had a gunshot wound to his right arm from the earlier shootout.
“Brighton Beach SAPS management congratulates Umlazi K9 member, Molly on her arrest. Her handler, Cst Khanyile and colleague W/O Strydom are commended for the situational appropriateness they applied which resulted in the apprehension of the suspect without harm coming to other police officers on scene.
We also commend W/O Van Der Looy for once again showcasing his informers’ networking skills, and for the recovery of the firearm in partnership with Cst Khanyile.
We also acknowledge the force-multiplying support we received from the Lamontville SAPS members on the scene. Through this arrest and recovery, it was once again proven that through partnership policing with various internal roleplayers, we can achieve more together,” said Brighton Beach SAPS media officer, Captain Louise Le Roux.
Molly was later rewarded with a large tin of beef chunks in jelly and gravy as a reward for the arrest.
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