Durban - The swift actions of a group of farmers in the Ladysmith area resulted in a 9-year-old boy being rescued from a hijacking situation.
Two men had hijacked a family of four who were en route to Giant’s Castle in Ladysmith at midday on Wednesday.
While the father, mother and one child managed to escape at a service station in Ladysmith at about 5pm, the 9-year-old was unable to get away and the hijackers drove off with the vehicle.
Mark Titout, of Ladysmith-based security company Secure SA, said he was alerted and given details as to where the vehicle was heading.
“I told farmers in the area to keep an eye out for the vehicle.”
Farmers spotted the silver Renault Duster between Colenso and Estcourt and used their own vehicles to surround it, effectively stopping it from moving in any direction.
With the help of police, farmers recovered the boy and took him to his parents in Ladysmith at about 8pm, Titout said.
Titout said the boy was not injured.
He said two arrests were made on scene. One of the hijackers had a toy gun and the other a knife.
He added that cellphones and cash had been taken from the family.