‘Mantoetse Maama
MASERU — A taxi driver is lucky to be alive after he was overpowered by three robbers who strangled him and threw him in the back of the vehicle.
The three had hired the taxi to take them from Lakeside to Khubetsoana Selakhapane.
But when they were at Lerakong the robbers suddenly pounced, overpowered his driver before seizing control of the vehicle.
The vehicle, commonly known as a 4+1 taxi, was later found abandoned in Hlotse, about 80km north of Maseru.
The driver reported the matter to the police leading to the arrest of the suspects.
The three, Khahliso Chona, Thabiso and Teboho Mokoma, are expected to appear in court soon to answer charges of kidnapping and vehicle theft.
Police spokesperson Masupha Masupha warned taxi drivers to be more cautious when dealing with passengers who want to hire vehicles.
“We plead with our 4+1 drivers to ask for their passengers’ phone numbers when they request to be taken to certain places on special trips. They must ask a passenger to give them his or her cell phone number and buzz it to make sure that it does exist then give it to the inspector or the owner of the car,” he said.
“This will ensure that when anything happens it will be easy to trace that person. The current spots that the hijackers commonly use are Lakeside and Leloaleng so far.”
Meanwhile, Masupha said another woman was also hijacked by three men aged between 28 and 32 last week.
The suspects who were later arrested were armed with a gun.
They stood in front of her car and pointed the firearm at her before seizing the vehicle.
Some of the suspects were arrested in Bloemfontein while others were found at Teyateyaneng.
Police say investigations on the case are continuing.
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