Durban - An Empangeni couple are recovering after a hijacking ordeal that lasted almost an hour.
The couple, both in their fifties, were hijacked outside their home on Wednesday night by two men who dumped them in an open field at Empangeni.
Orrin Singh, the couple's son who was speaking on their behalf, said his mother was still traumatised by the incident, but unharmed.
The hijackers made off with his father's Toyota.
Police spokesman Thulani Zwane said a case had been opened at the Empangeni police station for investigation and no arrests had been made.
Cash and cellphones were also stolen.
Singh said his parents had been visiting his nephew in hospital.
As they arrived home, when his father got out to close the gate, a man ran up brandishing a gun and told him to get into the back seat. A second man told his mother to also get into the back seat. They then drove off.
At the open field they told his father to get out and kneel. They took his phone and wallet. Then they told his mother to kneel and take off her jewellery.
Then in a strange twist, one of the hijackers gave back all her jewellery, putting her wedding ring back on her finger.
The hijackers left and his parents walked to a house where the occupants were afraid to come out, but called police and a security company for assistance.
Singh said that although his parents were still traumatised, prayer and training on how to cope with hijacking situations that his mother received at work, had saved them.
The Mercury