Namibian truck driver safe after hijacking ordeal in SA
• SA hijackings pose risk to Namibian drivers
Namibian truck drivers have been warned to be vigilant when travelling to and from South Africa due to an increase in hijacking incidents.
32-year-old Namibian Vilho Panduleni Nyati is safe and sound at the Namibian High Commission in Pretoria after he was hijacked last Thursday between 23:00 and midnight with his truck and cargo, and held by unknown suspects for several days.
Commissioner Reinhard Haoseb, the Namibian Police's attaché to South Africa, confirmed that Nyati was left blindfolded somewhere in Johannesburg on Thursday and eventually received assistance at a petrol station in Protea Glen in Soweto.
Good Samaritans informed the South African police of a man seeking help and Haoseb picked Nyati up after the Namibian authorities were notified. According to Haoseb, Nyati was unharmed and was receiving assistance with emergency travel documents to return him to Namibia.
Growing concern
Executive director of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, Mbahupu Tjivikua, warned last week about the latest incidents of truck hijackings involving Namibians in South Africa. Unfortunately, another truck was hijacked on Wednesday, he said.
"We hope that it will be recovered, as we are hopeful for the arrest of the criminals. We appreciate the assistance of the Namibian embassy in Pretoria," he said.
Tjivikua also added that Nyati's truck has not been recovered yet after the incident, which reportedly occurred on the N3 route just outside Harrismith, while he was travelling from Durban.
"We are grateful that he was found alive, although all his documents and possessions were lost," Tjivikua said.
Earlier this month, Tjivikua warned Namibian truck drivers to be vigilant when travelling to and from South Africa due to an increase in hijacking incidents.
Truck drivers are further advised to travel in convoys.
Haoseb also advised truck owners to install more than one tracking device on both the truck and the trailer. He said criminals in South Africa know how to disable devices and keep truck drivers captive until they can get rid of the truck and cargo. Furthermore, he recommended that more than one driver travel together so that someone can escape and inform the nearest police officer as quickly as possible.
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Commissioner Reinhard Haoseb, the Namibian Police's attaché to South Africa, confirmed that Nyati was left blindfolded somewhere in Johannesburg on Thursday and eventually received assistance at a petrol station in Protea Glen in Soweto.
Good Samaritans informed the South African police of a man seeking help and Haoseb picked Nyati up after the Namibian authorities were notified. According to Haoseb, Nyati was unharmed and was receiving assistance with emergency travel documents to return him to Namibia.
Growing concern
Executive director of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, Mbahupu Tjivikua, warned last week about the latest incidents of truck hijackings involving Namibians in South Africa. Unfortunately, another truck was hijacked on Wednesday, he said.
"We hope that it will be recovered, as we are hopeful for the arrest of the criminals. We appreciate the assistance of the Namibian embassy in Pretoria," he said.
Tjivikua also added that Nyati's truck has not been recovered yet after the incident, which reportedly occurred on the N3 route just outside Harrismith, while he was travelling from Durban.
"We are grateful that he was found alive, although all his documents and possessions were lost," Tjivikua said.
Earlier this month, Tjivikua warned Namibian truck drivers to be vigilant when travelling to and from South Africa due to an increase in hijacking incidents.
Truck drivers are further advised to travel in convoys.
Haoseb also advised truck owners to install more than one tracking device on both the truck and the trailer. He said criminals in South Africa know how to disable devices and keep truck drivers captive until they can get rid of the truck and cargo. Furthermore, he recommended that more than one driver travel together so that someone can escape and inform the nearest police officer as quickly as possible.
– [email protected]
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