Man shot six times during hijacking in eMalahleni
Hijackers are prepared to shoot you to get your vehicle.
It appears as if the criminals in eMalahleni are becoming more brazen and more violent with each passing day in the City of Coal.
Two violent hijackings occurred in the past week, and both were executed with more force and trauma to the victims than before.
The first hijacking occurred on Tuesday, July 16. A taxi driver in a Toyota Quantum was on his way back from Middelburg on the N4.
He stopped to pick up three unknown men who needed a taxi. During the trip, one of the men told the driver that he would like to get out at the Watermeyer off-ramp.
When the driver stopped, one of the men sitting at the back allegedly put a belt around his neck and forcefully strangled the driver.
The three assailants then allegedly dragged the driver into the back of the car with the belt around his neck, forcing him to lie down.
They allegedly held him at gunpoint while they drove around with him, continuing to threaten his life.
They arrived at an unknown destination, where they allegedly told him to open his banking app and send them money.
The taxi driver had no funds in his bank account, and after driving around with him, traumatising him even further, they left him in the bushes next to the N4.
The next hijacking occurred on Wednesday, July 17 at 19:00 in French Street.
The victim was sitting and listening to music in his sky-blue BMW when two unknown men tried to open the doors of his vehicle.
When they discovered that the doors were locked, they allegedly pointed a gun at the victim and told him to unlock the car.
Once the doors were unlocked, three other assailants allegedly also arrived, and they aggressively forced the victim into the back seat of his vehicle.
The victim fought with all his might and managed to overpower the assailants and started screaming for help.
he victim was shot four times in his right leg and twice in his left leg, but by some miracle was able to escape his attackers.
Although he was in excruciating pain, he managed to, run and jump over a wall into a neighbour’s yard.
The assailants allegedly then got into his vehicle and sped away, taking his wallet and a very expensive chips frying machine that was in the vehicle, with them.
The victim survived the attack and was recently discharged from hospital and is currently recovering at home.
“SAPS Witbank urges the community to please be vigilant at all times when travelling in their vehicles, and to avoid hijacking hotspots as far as possible. Carjackers are becoming more violent and will use the necessary force to take your vehicle,” said police spokesperson, Captain Eddie Hall.
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