Manenberg residents got a skrik Tuesday morning when the SAPS Flying Squad “came flying” into Renoster Walk following a hijacked taxi.
According to a source, local police and the community were left confused when the Flying Squad forced the 12 occupants to lay face down in the street and valuables, including a treadmill, were seen in the van.
“The Toyota Quantum comes from Mitchells Plain and was apparently hijacked on Monday.
“According to the taxi owner he got a call from his gaatjie saying the van was hijacked and he contacted the tracker company.
“The gaatjie said four men and four women jumped into the van and had a gun, but the gaatjie jumped out and phoned the owner.
“The owner contacted the tracking company and the van was tracked in Bellville on Monday night and then to Manenberg on Tuesday morning.
“They say the driver was kidnapped and kept by these mense the whole night.”
But when cops stopped the van shortly after 7am they found 12 people inside, one of whom was the hijacked driver.
SAPS Flying Squad members in Manenberg
“They also found oak furniture, a shower door and a treadmill. When they were questioned they denied hijacking the driver but couldn’t explain where all the furniture came from, but said it was picked up at a place in Bellville. There was also no firearm found.”
Police spokesperson, Siyabulela Malo, says after receiving a tracker signal, officers found a taxi with 12 occupants of which four were allegedly kidnapped.
“Eight suspects from Manenberg and Mitchells Plain, five males and three females in their 20s, were arrested in Sabie Road, Manenberg.”
The eight suspects will appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court on Thursday on kidnapping and hijacking charges.