ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
06 JULY 2023

EThekwini Municipality Metro Police has arrested six men who were found in possession of car parts stolen from Municipal vehicles. This arrest follows another recent success where our Metro Police’s Task Team recovered a NDM VW in uMlazi. The successes come in the face of an increase in the hijackings of municipal vehicles.

The arrest was made following a tip-off that led our team to a bush in Tafelkop where the men were found stripping and loading Municipal vehicles parts to transport them.

Metro Police Spokesperson Boysie Zungu said the suspects were arrested and handed over to the nearest police station.

EThekwini Municipality is experiencing a sharp rise in hijacking incidents involving Municipal and contractor vehicles. In the current financial year, it has lost no less than 95 vehicles, with the number rising daily. This has had a negative effect on service delivery, and with employees often left physically and psychologically scarred.

EThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda applauded the work being done by law enforcement in the fight against this scourge. “We applaud the Metro Police for this arrest given the alarming spike in Municipal vehicle hijackings which delays service delivery in communities and places the lives of employees at risk”.

He called upon communities to work closely with the City and law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to book. He also called on communities to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or to 0800235338.

Known hotspots are Mayville, Folweni, uMlazi, KwaMashu, Inanda, Zwelibomvu, Hammersdale and KwaNdengezi.

ENDS
Issued by eThekwini Municipality.