President Jacob Zuma is calling on the public to help police find a child who went missing when his father's car was hijacked, the presidency said on Sunday.
Five-year old Mongezi Phike was with his father in Bronkhorstspruit when their car was hijacked by four men.
"We also call on law enforcement authorities to spare no effort in seeking these criminals and bring them to justice...," Zuma said in a statement.
"We urge members of the community to help the police in their work so that Mongezi can be brought home safely."
Beeld Newspaper on Saturday reported that the incident happened on Tuesday night and the boy was still missing.
Phike and his father were in a car at an intersection in Masada, Bronkhorstspruit, when four men approached.
Two of them were armed.
A family friend said the gang allegedly tied the father's hands and feet with wire, covered his head with a plastic bag and wrapped tape around his neck.
His identity document, wallet, credit cards and phone were taken.
The friend said the father was hit on the head and left for dead at a construction site, while the hijackers fled with Phike.
The father was later found and taken to a hospital in Delmas.
"We cannot imagine the pain and sorrow that [the child's] family is going through," said Zuma.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 