A JOHANNESBURG hijacker who targeted a Bolt driver in the the Southgate area has been sentenced in the Booysens Magistrate’s Court to 12 years in prison.
Convicted hijacker Bongani Kheswa, 31, hijacked a white Toyota Avanza which operated on the e-hailing app Bolt (formerly Taxi y) on October two years ago.
Police said the hijacker had posed as a rider who was intent on driving to Southgate from Orlando, Soweto, but along the way he and an accomplice produced a knife and strangled the driver.
Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said the police found the vehicle in Alexandra township and the suspect was arrested while driving it.
“The victim got a request to pick up someone in Orlando; when he arrived, two males jumped in and told him to drive to Southgate.
“While approaching Southgate; they requested him to stop the vehicle; one in the front seat threatened him with a knife while his accomplice strangled him.
“He managed to jump off and fled; they drove off with a vehicle,” said Mbele.
Mbele said the car’s tracker signal was activated and the hijacker, Kheswa, was found driving the car and duly arrested.
Mbele said the police applauded Detective-Constable Thabiso Lehong, an investigating officer of the Johannesburg Central Trio Crimes Unit.
“We hope this sentence will scare away would be offenders from committing the same crime,” said Mbele.
IOL