Two men have been arrested after they allegedly hijacked a truck driver who gave them a lift while travelling from George.
Lejweleputswa district police spokesperson Captain Stephen Thakeng said in a statement the 52-year-old truck driver from George was refilling his Volvo truck with diesel on Tuesday at about 18:00 when a person who introduced himself as Denver Jacobs asked for a lift together with “his assistant”.
Thakeng said they travelled together until they approached Jakkalsdrift, near Winburg, when Jacobs wanted to relieve himself.
“He alighted the truck and when he came back, he apparently pointed the truck driver with a handgun,” said Thakeng.
“He was tied on the neck and instructed to jump off from the truck. The two suspects drove off . . . with a load full of wheat,” he added.
The truck driver managed to untie himself and got a lift from an ambulance heading to Ventersburg where he reported the incident.
A case of truck hijacking was registered and the Welkom K9 Unit was activated together with other police stations nearby.
The two suspects aged 25 and 27 years old, from the Western Cape and Phomolong in Hennenman, were arrested two hours later for possession of a suspected stolen truck with a load of wheat.
A Retay gas pistol was found in their possession.
The two suspects – whose case is being investigated by the Welkom Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit – are facing charges of truck hijacking and possession of a suspected stolen truck and goods.
They are expected to appear in the Winburg Magistrates Court soon.
Meanwhile, a security officer was robbed of two firearms, several valuables and identity documents while on duty in Welkom on Tuesday night.
Thakeng said in a separate statement the 23-year-old security officer was attacked at the corner of Tempest and Alma roads in Dagbreek in the mining town.
He said the guard was approached by two unknown men who pointed him with firearms.
“The other one grabbed his Mosberg shotgun from behind and took his personal firearm – 9mm CZ PO7 number K916146 with seven live ammunitions, iPhone, Tablet, iPad Mini 4, identity document, driver’s licence, Capitec and Nedbank cards and firearm licence,” Thakeng said.
He added: “They pulled him into an open field where there were seven to eight other additional suspects. These suspects went to Welkom Electrical site and left him with two suspects. The victim could hear shots being fired and all suspects fled on foot including the two who were guarding him.”
The guard managed to scream for help and he was rescued by other security personnel and the police.
Police are now investigating a case of armed robbery and are appealing to anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the alleged robbers.
Welkom SAPS Detectives can be contacted on 0828488120 or Police Emergency number: 08600 10111. — Staff Reporter