SAPS and Hawks Collaborate to Catch 2 Men, SA Has Questions After Truck Hijacking Suspects Dressed As Police

• Criminals were impersonating officers to enable their illegal activities, and they were caught and are due for court
• The Hawks, and other crime-fighting units, aided the South African Police Service in capturing alleged truck hijackers
• The SAPS reported on how the team was able to track down the suspects who were impersonating the police with fake uniforms

PRETORIA- The South African Police Service recently apprehended men accused of various crimes. On 28 July, a police team apprehended two men who were dressed as officers of the law.

South Africans were divided about the news, some celebrated the success of catching the suspects, while others thought it indicated trouble in Mzansi.

2 men arrested for alleged truck hijacking and impersonating SAPS

SAPS reported that they have recently arrested two men who are due in court on 31 July 2023. In a media statement, the police explained that the two men pretended to be traffic officers and conducted random vehicle searches in order to hijack trucks.

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How did SAPS catch alleged truck hijacking criminal duo?

According to SAPS, three parties were involved in the finding of the two men. The men were found thanks to The Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section, Falcon Risk Solutions, Tracker Connect, and the Gauteng police department, which came together to track down the two after truck hijackings were reported.

South Africans react to SAPS arresting men for hijackings

Though some people congratulated SAPS for their good work, others had jokes about how the suspected criminals pretended to be officers. Read what they had to say below

Sanele Lanez Mshengu asked:

"Everything that happens in this country is shocking. Where did they get the full service uniform? We are living in a movie."

Songo Nodada added:

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"Kanti, where do these criminals get these uniforms?"

Mlulasi Zenani commented:

"So, we should not stop when traffic officers are stopping us?"

Mbhoni Erasmus wrote:

"Then you expect motorists to stop when they are advised to be stopped in the roads? Honestly, even if you're a cop or not, we will no longer trust anything. Just fix the system."

Vusi Hadebe remarked:

"The police must get the supplier of uniform."

Rhulani Masinge pointed out:

"When I refuse to stop, I will be charged with failure to comply with the instructions law enforcement agency, defeating the ends of justice. So we are better to be victims. That's the new South Africa."

Codnell Makaringe applauded:

"Now they are going to get their real uniform, job well done SAPS."

Transport sector call for increased protection as truck attacks continue to rise

Briefly News previously reported that trucks in South Africa are under siege, and there seems to be no end in sight after more trucks were set on fire in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

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A truck was torched on the R59 route in Gauteng, and another three were set alight in Mpumalanga. At least 20 trucks have been set on fire in the last four days.

Five trucks were torched in KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo on Monday, 10 July. 11 were set alight over the weekend, six in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday, 8 July and five in Mpumalanga on Sunday evening, 9 July, News24 reported.

Source: Briefly News