Klerksdorp Record, Klerksdorp - The R30 between Klerksdorp and Orkney is fast becoming notorious for criminal activity after two recent high profile incidents.
It has become so bad that Orkney SAPS issued a warning for people to avoid travelling late at night on the road, and to be vigilant at all times, even during the day, for gunmen. “It is common knowledge that illegal miners are very active in the area, and most of the crimes are directly related to the activities of the so-called Zama-Zamas. We consider all the roads surrounding Orkney as dangerous, especially after dark,’’ says WO Elize van Schalkwyk, police spokesperson in Orkney.
This week, a family, consisting of a young mom and her two children were hijacked on the road near the Orkney cemetery by armed men. It happened on Tuesday night February 21 between 19:30 and 20:00. The hijackers fled with her youngest son, a 20 month old baby, still in the car. They did not get far because the car, a silver Toyota Etios was found abandoned with the hysterical child inside on the Vaal Maseru Road. There was no sign of the hijackers.
“A taxi driver who drove past the accident scene noticed the child inside the car. He took the child to safety and phoned the police. The child was lucky to escape serious injury because it looked like the car overturned. The baby boy was taken to hospital for observation and reunited with his parents,’’ Van Schalkwyk said.
According to Lt Col Amanda Funani, police spokesperson, the mother told the police she was traveling with her two sons when she stopped to allow the eldest boy (5) to relief himself next to the road. They got out of the vehicle with the one year old still inside. Next moment, she was staring into a firearm.
“The men threatened her and the child and fled the scene with her car. She phoned her husband who alerted Klerksdorp SAPS who looked for the vehicle that was later found next to the road,’’ Van Schalkwyk said.
The police are investigating a case of car hijacking and kidnapping.
* In a separate incident, also on this road, a motorist was gunned down in his vehicle and a pregnant woman wounded when they were forced off the road by men driving a VW Caravelle. According to Col Adele Myburgh, police spokesperson, two armed men who were obviously waiting for the white Toyota Hilux to be pulled over, came running out of the bushes and opened fire.
“The driver died on the scene. The pregnant lady in the passenger side was wounded and transported to hospital when the emergency services arrived. The gunmen fled in the Caravelle and there has been no sign of them since,’’ she said.
Myburgh could not identify the driver yet, but confirmed that he is a 29 year old man from Lesotho. “The motive for the attack is unknown but it is clear that it was carefully planned. Investigation is continuing.’’ Anyone with information, can contact Sgt Molefi Modisadife on 067 861 8462.
