A multi-disciplinary cross-border police team has arrested six suspects in connection with the hijacking of a truck carrying meat worth more than R500 000 in North West.
By Carien Kruger, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
Police acted on a tip-off and assembled a team comprising members of the provincial anti-gang unit, drug task force, Klerksdorp tactical response team, Johannesburg K9 unit, detectives from Carletonville, the Gauteng West Rand rural security team and private security companies.
When the suspects allegedly hijacked the truck at around 07:45 on Thursday morning, 30 October, the police team swooped in on them on the R559 between Carletonville and Randfontein, foiling the hijacking.
The suspects, aged between 28 and 48, appeared in the Carletonville Magistrate’s Court on 3 November on charges of hijacking and kidnapping.
Police seized the hijacked truck, loaded with meat, along with three vehicles allegedly used in the crime.
Major General Ryno Naidoo, acting provincial police commissioner in North West, commended the team for its coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to combating and preventing crime, which led to the arrests.
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