Johannesburg CBD ‘hijacking’ not what it seems

A suspected hijacking incident involving an e-hailing driver in Johannesburg CBD has turned out to be something else.

In a video circulating on social media, a Bolt driver was seen being pulled out of his vehicle by a group of men in what looked like a hijacking.

But according to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), this was not the case.

‘Kidnapping’

Following an investigation, the JMPD said there had been some confusion on the incident, which took place on Saturday, after the Bolt driver had been mistaken for kidnapping the two children of one of the men that confronted the motorist.

“The victim explained to officers that it was not a hijacking, instead, the alleged hijacking suspect had requested a ride at corner Commissioner and Kruis streets.

“As soon as the alleged suspect, who was with his wife and three children, opened the door for the children to go in, the driver noticed that meter taxi drivers were moving toward to attack him [so] he sped off with two children, leaving the father, mother and one child behind,” JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said in a