Hooting motorist stops hijacking
2009-11-26 09:33
Vanderbijlpark – A Heidelberg woman says she was pulled over by two "policemen" in Murray Street in Southgate on Monday, and told: "You're cheeky and it's going to cost you your life."
Madelene Diedericks, 37, says she was threatened by a man in a police uniform as she was on her way to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital to visit her sister, when her nightmare began.
"These days I drive to the hospital from Heidelberg every day to visit my sister, Meisie Joubert, 47. She was involved in a car accident on October 30 and has been fighting for her life in the Intensive Care Unit at that hospital ever since," she said.
"On the Vereeniging highway, two men dressed like Saps members drove behind me in an unmarked black VW Golf with blue lights in the front window."
Pulled over
According to Diedericks, two other "policemen" in a white Ford Focus, also with blue lights, pulled her over near the Southgate shopping mall, supposedly because they were looking for drugs and stolen vehicles.
The men in the Golf drove past and later turned around, but didn't stop.
One of the men who'd been driving in the Ford ordered Diedericks to get out of her brand new Nissan 4x4 bakkie, after they presented cards to identify themselves as police officials.
"I refused, because they were being aggressive and I didn't feel at ease, despite the fact that they showed me police identity cards."
According to Diedericks, one of the men pulled her out of her car and became angry because she apparently remained standing too close to the car door.
"Then he wanted me to switch on my car, supposedly to see if it was a stolen vehicle. (He) pressed a firearm to my head when I again refused."
Hit with firearm
It was then that he apparently told her she's far too cheeky and that she will pay for it with her life.
"Meanwhile, another motorist had stopped behind us, hooted and motioned with his thumb in the air, as if to ask if everything is okay."
Diedericks said it was then that the "policeman" hit her over the head with his firearm, nonchalantly climbed into the “police” vehicle and drove off.
According to Thivhulawi Tshilate, Heidelberg police spokesperson, the Mondeor police are investigating a case of attempted hijacking.
