Lentswe, Klerksdorp - The police are busy linking a hijacking ring operating in this part of North West after the arrest of one of its operators in Klerksdorp this week. The stop and search conducted by police officers from the K9 unit on Saturday September 28 when they noticed an Isuzu truck busy losing its cargo while driving in Wilkeville yielded a surprising result when they discovered a crime.
Col Adele Myburgh, police spokesperson, said the truck was in Dawill Street when it was pulled over by the K9 unit. “The driver and passenger jumped out and ran away. They caught one of the suspects and seized two firearms, of which one was a toy gun.
“The suspect was arrested after he failed to produce a valid license for the firearm. Upon further investigation, blood was found in the driver’s side of the truck and other police units were alerted to the possibility of a crime being committed in the area,’’ she said.
Soon afterwards, members of Potchefstroom Flying Squad were alerted to a gunshot victim being treated in a Klerksdorp hospital. He was wounded in the upper body. “An Uber driver discovered the injured man next to the road in Manzil Park and rushed him to hospital.
Upon interviewing the man, he told them that he was driving an Isuzu truck on the R30 road between Klerksdorp and Ventersdorp, when he was stopped by suspects in two vehicles about 15 km from Ventersdorp. He tried to escape, but was shot and placed in the back of a vehicle and dropped off in Manzil Park.’’
The suspect, who is estimated to be in his 30’s, was due to appear in the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court this week, for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, attempted murder and for being in possession of suspected stolen property.
Police investigations are continuing and linkages to more cases can’t be ruled out.
