Better security at Grasmere
2004-04-05 18:23
Johannesburg - Intertoll has introduced additional security at the Grasmere
toll plaza on the N1 South motorway following a violent hijacking
in the vicinity last week, the company said on Monday.
Measures included "the stationing of security personnel and
incident management vehicles in the vicinity of where the incident
took place" Intertoll said in a statement.
A woman and her niece were raped and her husband was shot by a
group of hijackers who intercepted them at the top of an off-ramp
just outside the plaza last Wednesday.
They were on their way to
the Eastern Cape in their Colt bakkie with a trailer when about
four men in a Camry pounced.
The women were taken to Ennerdale and raped and the man was
pushed out of his car and shot. The women were later found
wandering along the freeway in shock and the man was found
seriously injured.
It has emerged that the cables running to monitors that record
vehicle traffic and revenue were cut and there has still not been a
clear explanation why the family took the off-ramp.
Intertoll confirmed that camera cabling had been damaged, but
said it was still investigating whether this could be linked to
last week's crime.
"This has been reported to the police and we
have every confidence that appropriate investigations are
underway."
Lie detector tests
The company has also introduced lie detector tests for its staff
in an effort to establish whether the hijacking was an inside job.
"As a consequence of the nature of this incident, and the inference
of possible involvement of the plaza staff, Intertoll has
undertaken routine polygraph tests of their personnel."
Intertoll said it was corroborating information from the public
with its toll management information systems. "Intertoll would also
welcome any further evidence from the public that would assist in
the investigation.
"Any additional information will be again be forwarded to the
police," the company said.
The company was also improving sight lines so that motorists
approaching the plaza could have a better view of the operating
lanes.
Suspects in court
Three Mozambican men appeared in the Vanderbijlpark magistrate's
court on Monday in connection with the hijacking.
The men - Jacob
Gasper, 30, Anthony Mothabela, 34, and Daniel Tekerra, 27 - face
charges of hijacking, rape and attempted murder and will return to
court on April 8.
The police are tracking down three more people that they believe
may have been involved.
- SAPA