Tshwane metro police director hijacked by 'well-oiled syndicate'

Tshwane Metro Police Director Sean Bolhuis and his wife were hijacked in Pretoria, and released unharmed, his brother said.

"It happened in a very secure area, on a busy main street, just at the entrance of a complex, right in front of the security," said Mike Bolhuis, a security specialist and private investigator.

He said the hijacking, which happened in Equestria at 21:00 on Thursday, was carried out by a "well-oiled syndicate" which hijacked three other cars that evening.  

There were four men, they were aggressive and knew exactly what they were doing, he said.

Sean Bolhuis and his wife were held for about 45 minutes before the hijackers dropped them off in the Bynespoort smallholdings. The couple sought help from a local resident and police were called.

The hijackers disabled the couple's cellphones and the car's satellite tracking device. The car, a white VW Touareg with registration number DR 30 PR GP, was a month old.

Mike Bolhuis said they were under the impression it was an "order hijack" and that the car was on its way to Mozambique. He was grateful that his brother was not in uniform at the time. 

The couple's children were not with them. They had kept their heads down and agreed to the hijackers' demands.

He said both the police and metro police handled the matter professionally and competently.

"It can happen to anybody. It is still one of the most violent and serious crimes. People must be vigilant," Bolhuis said.

Source: News24