Middelburg, Mpumalanga – Three men accused of robbing two hitchhiking siblings after offering them a lift were denied bail by the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Keletso Masihla, 32, Tebogo Mailula, 34, and Dumisani Mohlala, 36, are alleged to have picked up the siblings on Saturday while they were hitchhiking along the N11 highway from Groblersdal to Middelburg. According to police spokesperson Donald Mdluli, the suspects turned on the victims as they approached Loskop Dam, demanding all of their possessions.
“One of the victims immediately jumped out of the vehicle while it was still moving, sustaining minor injuries. The driver stopped the vehicle, and the suspects were distracted by another car that appeared during the robbery,” Mdluli said. The suspects fled with the victims’ bags before being pursued by the driver of the other vehicle, who gave the victims a lift and called the police.
A high-speed chase ensued, and the suspects’ vehicle was eventually spotted and stopped by police. All three men were arrested at the scene.
The case was postponed, and the accused are scheduled to appear again in court on 25 November.
In a related warning, Acting Provincial Police Commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi cautioned the public about the dangers of hitchhiking, noting that both pedestrians and motorists can become targets for criminals. “We’ve had incidents of murder and hijacking where drivers were targeted while assisting hitchhikers. People should avoid this practice, especially now, during this period when criminals often take advantage of travelers,” he said.