On Tuesday, 29 August 2023, a truck driver and his accomplice were detained in Bushbuckridge for allegedly plotting and staging a hijacking and robbery of a truck laden with liquor worth around R50 000.

Two suspects detained for attempted hijacking and robbery
According to Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, a spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga, on Tuesday, August 23, 2023, at around 06:45, a truck driver working for a certain beverage wholesaler was driving a truck full of alcoholic beverages along the R533 with two of his crews.
Mohlala claimed the three were on their way to deliver packages to the Matibidi Trust when two masked men emerged from the bushes near Inyaka Dam and seized them at gunpoint.
Also, here are the top ten areas in South Africa for hijackings, according to official data.

Before entering the vehicle, the suspects allegedly instructed the driver to pull over and directed him to a nearby store.

The vehicle veered off in the direction of Bushbuckridge, then continued on to Boikhutso, and finally disappeared into the bushes in Xanthia Trust. Mohlala claimed that while the truck was stuck in the bushes, the manager contacted to find out where it was and was told that it was in Graskop.
And then, according to the charges, the suspects and the two crew members proceeded to the truck’s back and started unloading the booze. They were then free to go after the armed guys disarmed.

ACCUSED PEOPLE GOING ON TRIAL
Even though authorities were already aware of the situation, the driver allegedly drove to the Bushbuckridge authorities Station to report it.
After then, a case was opened, and the investigating team went to the Xanthia scene by the bushes.

Mohlala stated that a grey Toyota Hilux with a canopy was spotted by police during the investigation. They took a closer look and saw that the bakkie was filled with booze, so they attempted to pull the driver over. The man disregarded the cops and fled on foot, but he was eventually caught.
Police then impounded the bakkie and the luggage for further examination.

The spot where they discovered the truck. SAPS image.

Also see: Liquor heist: armed bandits steal $450,000 worth of alcohol off a truck
The investigation revealed evidence suggesting the hijacking and robbery had been staged. The claims implicating the truck driver in this fiasco came as a complete surprise. The truck driver has been apprehended as a result of this. Mohlala further noted that further research was needed before concluding that the suspects arrested were not involved in previous instances of a similar type.
The two suspects were arrested on suspicion of truck hijacking, and more charges related to the heist could be filed. On Thursday, August 31st, 2023, the two were brought before the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on the aforementioned counts.

SEE ALSO: N2 crash: truck allegedly plundered as EMTs treated casualties
TO READ MORE ARTICLE BY NOKWANDA NCWANE, CLICK HERE