On March 18, a truck driver was allegedly held at gunpoint and questioned about what he was transporting, before being thrown into the boot of a ‘police vehicle’.
Mr Amon Ngomezulu was transporting a load of copper rods on the N4 highway in a white International Eagle truck. He had just passed the Middelburg Toll Plaza when he noticed police alongside the road were pulling trucks over for inspection. He wasn’t pulled over and continued to drive on.
Roughly two kilometres had passed when Ngomezulu noticed blue lights flashing in his rear-view mirror. He was being chased down by the ‘police’. They motioned him to pull over and stop.
A ‘police’ vehicle stopped in front of the truck.
“It was fully branded and the ‘policeman’ that got out of the vehicle was fully dressed in uniform,” said Mr Orlando Ferreira, Ngomezulu’s employer.
The ‘policeman’ approached Ngomezulu’s window, requesting his driver’s license, then requested that Ngomezulu accompany him to the ‘police’ vehicle. Once again he complied with the ‘police’.
The ‘policeman’ allegedly drew a firearm and pointed at Ngomezulu asking him what he was transporting in the truck. Ngomezulu lied, saying that he was transporting chemicals.
“The ‘policeman’ knew he was lying and forced my driver into the boot of their vehicle and closed it. This happened at about 21:30,” said Ferriera.
The ‘police’ hijackers drove the truck along the N4 and took the R25 turnoff passing through Bronkhorstspruit. The truck broke down on the R25 due to mechanical failure caused by the hijacker’s negligence.
The truck was abandoned, along with its R2.5-million load of copper rods, as the hijackers had no way of transporting the goods further.
About two-and-a-half hours passed before Ngomezulu was freed from his confinement. The ‘policeman’ had taken his phone, so Ngomezulu made his way to a power station where he called Ferreira, notifying him of what had happened.
“My drivers are under strict instruction to press a panic button the moment they are pulled over, Amon didn’t however because he saw the police were pulling trucks over along the highway,” added Ferreira.
The truck valued at about R500 000 was recovered along with the copper rods. But the question that comes to mind is, if the ‘police’ were taking the truck to the nearest station wouldn’t Witbank Police Station be the best option, being along the N4 Highway.
“Members of the public are advised to take note of markings on vehicle (which station its from), vehicle registration and nametags, this will assist with investigations in alleged corruption,” said Capt Eddie Hall, Witbank police spokesperson.
Capt Hall added that if the officer is not in possession of a nametag, the public are in full right to request the officer’s ID.
A docket has been opened at Witbank SAPS regarding the hijacking by the alleged policeman.
Brig Sfiso Gele requests that members of the public come forward with information related to corruption, the public can also call the anti-corruption hotline 0800 701 701 (callers will remain anonymous).
