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Ernest Nkosi, a 37-year-old man from Mpumalanga, was arrested after a farmer was robbed of his vehicle and an undisclosed amount of money at a farm in Belfast. Nkosi has appeared before the Belfast Magistrate's Court for possession of a hijacked vehicle and faces charges of armed robbery. The incident occurred on June 28, 2024, when a farmer was paying his employees when four suspects driving in two vehicles, a Mercedes Benz sedan and a Volkswagen Polo, suddenly showed up and attacked him. The victim was held at gunpoint and forced into the rear side of a bakkie before they took off with him.
The Mercedes Benz used in the kidnapping was fitted with false registration number plates and was reportedly hijacked at Verena, Mpumalanga, earlier this year. Nkosi was among the suspects and was found hiding in nearby bushes. Police are currently working to bring the other suspects behind bars, and members of the public with information on their whereabouts can call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send it via My SAPS App. All received information will be treated as confidential, and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
Acting provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, has commended the partnership between police and farmers, encouraging communities in other areas to emulate the positive results of this incident. Two suspects, Simphiwe Dhladhla and Siphiwe Sigasa, were remanded in custody after appearing in a Limpopo court for possession of a stolen Toyota Fortuner and a Toyota Hilux GD-6 bakkie.
