Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Police nab hijack suspects within an hour
THE SON of well-known University of Western Cape council chairman Brian Williams was hijacked yesterday.
Police moved swiftly to arrest two suspects after Cape Town advocate Nathan Williams and his one- year- old daughter were hijacked off the N7, near the Cape Town Ostrich Farm.
Williams was taking his daughter on a visit to the Ostrich Farm and was driving on Van Schoorsdrift Road when he was approached by two men, one with a gun and both armed with bricks. He was forced out of his vehicle and the attackers demanded the keys.
“My daughter was strapped in her car seat at the back and I begged them to give me my child. First they refused but when they couldn’t start the car they asked me to start it and in return gave me the child, who was screaming,” Williams said.
In less than an hour after the police were alerted, the suspects, aged 23 and 24, were apprehended, with the help of nearby residents.
“The police were incredible. As soon as they sent out information to their network, they were receiving leads that the vehicle was being seen in Monte Vista and later Elsies River and a team was dispatched. Soon afterwards the suspects were arrested.“I was blown away by the level of service. Here was a team of people who sacrificed time with their own families during the holidays to help us,” he said.
The vehicle and all their belongings were recovered.
Brian Williams praised the police officers for their action and said it showed that the police were capable of doing good work.
The action also highlighted the co-operation between police and residents.
Police spokeswoman Noloyiso Rwexana said a case of hijacking was being investigated and the suspects would appear in the Atlantis Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.