The fight against trio crimes in the Western Cape forms an important part of the Provincial SAPS Strategy to deal with violent crime. Today, 2 August 2018 at 05:00, a 32-year-old man was hijacked at gunpoint by five men in Renoster Road, Manenberg. The suspects put him into the boot of his car before starting to drive around.
Three suspects were dropped off at an undisclosed location. The remaining two suspects then drove around in the Philippi precinct with the victim still in the boot of the vehicle. On the corner of Olieboom and Varkensvlei roads the vehicle collided with a rock, which caused a flat tyre. The police deployed in the area were doing high density patrols when they saw the vehicle with the damaged tyre, and pulled over to assist. When police members opened the boot of the silver Honda Jazz they found the 32-year-old victim there.
The two suspects tried to flee, but the 21-year- old suspect was arrested at the scene. The K9 unit was called out to search the immediate farm area for the suspect who had fled. They found him and he attempted to escape again. But the K9 members wrestled with him and brought him under control. Both suspects were arrested and will be appearing in court soon.
The 32-year-old victim was physically unharmed and will be receiving counselling to support him in dealing with the ordeal.