LOUIS TRICHARDT – Three police inspectors have been arrested in connection with a motor theft charge, after an alleged hijack incident.

A local member of the SAPS's Crime Prevention Unit appeared in the magistrate's court on Monday (2nd) and two police officials from Beitbridge and Musina were to appear on Thursday on charges pertaining to the same incident.

The 36-year-old inspector from Louis Trichardt, Mashudu Freddy Makananise, appeared in connection with the alleged hijacking of a Mercedes Benz sedan near the N1 in Louis Trichardt. The two other police inspectors, aged 37 and 41 years, are attached to the Beitbridge Border Post and the SAPS' detective branch in Musina respectively. Makananise was also previously stationed at the Beitbridge Border Post.

It is alleged that the vehicle with a male driver and two female passengers was approached while parked near Ayob Motors in Louis Trichardt. Inspector Makananise was allegedly in his vehicle together with a friend; he then informed the driver of the Mercedes Benz that he had information that the vehicle was a stolen one. He then allegedly ordered that the vehicle be taken to the Louis Trichardt Police Station. The inspector's friend was to drive the Mercedes to the police station, while its original driver was instructed to get into Makananise's vehicle. When the two female passengers in the Mercedes discovered that they were not on their way to the police station, they phoned the police.

According to a police press statement the driver of the Mercedes (Makananise's friend) drove away on arrival of the police and Makananise also disappeared, leaving all the occupants in the street.

At the police station it was established that the Mercedes, which was on its way from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe, had false number plates. This led to the detention of the original driver, who alleged that the vehicle was hired by his brother from Investment Cars. The police established that Investment Cars only sells cars and that the registration number belongs to a vehicle, which is on sale at the company in Johannesburg.

The investigation on the alleged hi-jacking of the stolen vehicle continues.