Tshwane metro cop arrested after foiled hijack attempt in Mpumalanga

A 37-year-old on-duty Tshwane metro police constable and his two accomplices, aged 33 and 34, have been arrested in Mpumalanga for allegedly conspiring to hijack a truck. 

The Middelburg flying squad foiled the planned hijacking on the N4 around Phola, near Ogies..  

“Flying squad members who were patrolling the area on Wednesday at about 2pm noticed a suspicious looking white Toyota Corolla fitted with Gauteng registration plates parked at a strategic position,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brig Selvy Mohlala.  

He said when the police approached the vehicle for investigation, a man wearing a Tshwane metro police uniform carrying a side firearm alighted from the car. 

The suspect allegedly introduced himself as a constable from Tshwane metro. Police then ordered the other two occupants to alight from the vehicle.  

“That is when the driver, who was in civilian clothing alighted, also armed with a handgun. He could neither produce the firearm licence nor the permit to possess a firearm,” he said. 

Mohlala added the third occupant, also wearing a full Tshwane metro police uniform, without a firearm, got out of the vehicle. When asked if he was also a Tshwane metro cop, he denied it, indicating he was lent the uniform by his accomplice.

“During the investigation, it was uncovered that the vehicle they were using was reportedly hijacked in Daveyton [Ekurhuleni]. Police further recovered two network jamming devices, an eight-channel as well as 20-channel jammers,” he added.  

When the suspects were interviewed, it was established there was another vehicle in the vicinity which sped off after realising their accomplices were caught.  

“Hence their motive was revealed that their mission was to hijack a truck. The trio were arrested and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, possession of jamming network devices, possession of stolen motor vehicle and impersonating police officials,” he said.  

The suspects were expected to appear in the Emalahleni magistrate's court on Thursday.  

Mpumalanga provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Semakaleng Daphney Manamela welcomed the arrest and urged members not to participate in crime. 

“It is frustrating when some of our security cluster members are the ones working against us. It is really unacceptable that a metro police member can leave his municipality jurisdiction and crosses the provincial border to commit a crime in Mpumalanga,” she said.

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