Held at gunpoint by two hijackers and driven through the city at high speed, a Centurion woman had a narrow escape when police on patrol spotted her attackers driving recklessly through Ga-Rankuwa and forced them to surrender.
The woman, who declined to be interviewed, was hijacked in Rooihuiskraal on Sunday afternoon as she neared her home.
Forcing the 53-year-old woman off the road, the attackers, armed with 9mm pistols, held her up before dragging her into the back of her car. As one held the terrified woman at gunpoint, the other got into the driver’s seat and drove off.
Racing through the city and on to the Mabopane Highway, the suspects were spotted by police as they drove into Ga-Rankuwa.
Giving chase after discovering that the vehicle had been hijacked, police eventually forced the driver to stop, arresting the men as they tried to flee.
Police spokesman Warrant Officer Matthews Nkoadi confirmed the hijacking and kidnapping and said officers on patrol in the township became suspicious when they spotted the men driving recklessly.
Nkoadi said the policemen, discovering that the car had been hijacked, gave chase while radioing for back-up.
“As they chased after the car, the police officers managed to force the driver to stop. The two suspects were arrested as they tried to flee.
“While searching the men police recovered two 9mm pistols,” he said.
He said the woman, who was unharmed, was taken to safety by the officers.
Nkoadi said the suspects would appear in the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of armed robbery, kidnapping, possession of a suspected hijacked vehicle and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
In a separate incident, a Pretoria woman is fighting for her life after she was allegedly shot by her boyfriend as they drove past Bronkhorstspruit Hospital following a heated argument.
The couple, who were driving with a friend on Saturday night, became involved in an argument as they stopped at an intersection near the hospital.
It is believed that as the woman’s boyfriend stopped at the four-way stop in Riama Park he pulled out a gun and opened fire on the 23-year-old woman, shooting her once before allegedly pushing her out of his car.
Moments later the man also ordered their friend out of the car before racing off.
Police spokeswoman Sergeant Sally Skosana confirmed the shooting and said police were still looking for the gunman.
“At this stage we have no information on his whereabouts.
“What we know is that he stopped at the intersection near the hospital, pulled out a gun and then shot his girlfriend.
“He pushed the critically injured woman out of the car and ordered their friend to get out before he drove off.
“The friend ran to get help from the hospital and called the police.
“The police were unable to find the man,” she said.
Skosana said they were appealing to anyone with information on the man’s whereabouts to contact their nearest police station.
She said that a case of attempted murder had been opened. - Pretoria News