A Gift of the Givers team was left traumatised after being hijacked and robbed in Khayelitsha on Friday evening. The team was on duty in Lingelethu West when they were approached at gunpoint by unknown suspects.
SUPPLIED: Gift Of The GiversSpokesperson, Ali Sablay, says the team was taken to an
unknown location.
‘’At a stop street, a blue Toyota Yaris suddenly cut in
front of their vehicle. Within seconds, 5 to 7 armed men emerged from nearby
structures and forcefully removed our team at gunpoint. The team was bundled
into the Yaris, while two of the suspects sped off in the sponsored Gift of the
Givers van. The suspects drove our staff to a secluded location surrounded by
informal structures with no electricity. In their attempt to locate and remove
the vehicle's tracker device, they stripped the dashboard and inadvertently
triggered the panic alarm.’’
‘’Johnny Jaftha from Tracker Connect, upon receiving the
alert, immediately sprang into action. Despite the evident danger of the area
and without backup, he selflessly put his own life at risk to locate and assist
our team. His courageous efforts are deeply appreciated,’’ he added.
SUPPLIED: Gift Of The GiversSablay conveyed gratitude to Western Cape Police
Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile and the SAPS members who
responded promptly and ensured the safe recovery and escort of its team. The
vehicle is currently in police custody for further investigation.
‘’Our staff members are understandably deeply traumatised,
having been driven around for close to 40 minutes in an area where Gift of the
Givers has been actively involved in social upliftment and disaster relief
projects for many years. A special word of appreciation goes to Councillor
Lomwabo Mqina and the community of Khayelitsha, who mobilised and drove around
in search of our team. Their visible anger and frustration at this criminal act
speaks to their solidarity with our mission and the deep community ties we
share. Gift of the Givers remains committed to serving all communities in need,
despite the risks our teams sometimes face,’’ said Ali Sablay, Gift of the
Givers spokesperson.
SUPPLIED: Gift Of The Givers‘’According to reports the complainant was driving a white
Isuzu LDV clearly marked Gift of the Givers. He was going to drop two
colleagues at Diki Nyeka Square when they arrived at the mentioned address a
Toyota Yaris stopped in front of them, five males positively armed got out of
the vehicle, threatened them and demanded that they must get out of the LDV.
The complainant and his colleagues were then put in the Toyota Yaris and drove
to an informal settlement with no electricity, where the suspects wants to remove the vehicle’s tracker device
and damaged the dashboard. This then triggered the panic alarm of the vehicle
and the Tracker company was immediately dispatched to the location,’’ said Captain
F.C Van Wyk, Western Cape police spokesperson.
‘’The complainant and colleagues were found and police
removed the vehicle from the scene and handed it in as exhibit and further
processing. Investigations continues, no arrest as yet,’’ he added.
Done By: Mitchum George
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