By Doreen Mokgolo and Everson Luhanga
A cop from Temba police station was hijacked in Soshanguve on Sunday afternoon.
The cop, an operational commander, was forced to drive to Winteveld, Tshwane by the three hijackers.
Now angry residents of Winterveld are urging Minister of Police Bheki Cele to prioritise fighting crime in the area.
It is alleged the commander had offered to transport two people home after they had made statements at the police station and told the commander they didn’t have taxi fare to get them home.
But after he had dropped them off, the commander was confronted by three armed men who held him up at gunpoint.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said they then forced him to drive to Winterveld where they stripped him of his cellphone, cash and other valuables.
“The suspects are still on the run and we are urging residents who may know who the three men are to come forward,” she said.
Resident Thomas Nokeri said crime in the area is getting so bad that every second day a stolen or hijacked car is recovered abandoned or hidden in one of the homes in the area.
“Criminals are now targeting law enforcement officers. As it is, it is impossible to get Emergency Medical Services into the area to collect patients without a police escort because officials are hijacked and robbed,” he said.
“What kind of community are we turning into?”
Resident Maria Skhosana said they are asking the police and the police minister to prioritise the fight against crime in the area.
“When it gets dark at night we lock ourselves inside the houses because we are scared a criminal who is running away may come into your house or we could get struck by a bullet during a shoot-out,” she said.
“We can’t allow criminals to find it easy to use the area as a hub to harbour stolen goods.”
Photo above: The recovered stolen police bakkie
Photo source: Supplied
