Durban - A Toyota Hiace 2001 panel van with standard features was refurbished and turned into a minibus taxi – thanks to hijackers from uMlazi.
The van, used to deliver newspapers, including the Daily News, is now fitted with new white wall tyres, a power flow exhaust, a rear tow bar, windows and seats. Extras also include double headlights.
The hijackers were so patriotic they emblazoned the sides with the South African flag.
After it was hijacked in mid-June, and after a tip-off, the van was found at the weekend operating as a taxi for the uMlazi South Taxi Owners’ Association. It was taken to the police vehicle pound in Reunion, Isipingo.
On Monday, an Independent Newspapers vehicle management team drove the vehicle back from the pound. The number plate and licence discs were replicas of another taxi operating in uMlazi.
The van had been fitted with red and black seats covered in plastic. The engine and chassis numbers had been filed off.
It had a huge dent in front, below the driver’s section and the interior panels had been removed, probably when the hijackers looked for the tracking device, which they eventually found.
According to an incident report, the Independent driver on duty had been dropping off staff at their homes when he was hijacked. He had dropped off a staff member in Isipingo Road when an Isuzu bakkie stopped in front of the van. Four men with guns jumped into the van and ordered the driver and his co-worker into the back seat.
Their hands were tied and they were forced at gunpoint to lie on the floor.
The hijackers then drove to uMlazi CC section and dropped the men off with one of the hijackers. They were forced to sit behind a tree in an isolated area while the hijacker kept watch.
Two hours later a car arrived and a knife was tossed to the hijacker who cut the cable ties. The hijacker returned the driver’s wallet and gave him R40 for taxi fares. The hijackers drove off and the two made their way to a nearby house for help. The men reported the incident to the KwaMakhutha police station.
The van now has an owner’s identification sticker on the front doors which reads “Tycoon Trans”, with a cellphone number.
Several traffic fines addressed to three different people were found in the taxi. Most were fines for R200 and R300 for not wearing a seat belt. One was a summons for the driver to appear in court.
No arrests have been made.
Deno Moodley, Independent Newspapers’ workshop foreman, said management would make a decision on the van/taxi’s future.
Daily News