Two alleged robbers were shot dead after they tried to rob an armed hitchhiker in Middleburg, Mpumalanga.
The five men gave the hitchhiker a lift in a Hyundai Tucson just before midnight on Saturday.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said the men, armed with a knife, refused to drop off the hitchhiker at his destination.
"Instead, [they] held him hostage and robbed him of his cell phone and other personal belongings. One of the men is said to have robbed the victim of his bank card and demanded the PIN from the victim," said Mdhluli.
Mdhuli said the men drove to the nearest ATM and one of them got out of the car to withdraw the money while four remained in the car with the hitchhiker.
"The hitchhiker is said to have pulled out a firearm then fatally shot the driver and a passenger. The other suspects then ran for their lives.
"The hitchhiker immediately went to the nearby filling station to request for assistance and police were summoned whilst the security officers attended the matter," said Mdhluli.
Mdhluli said when police arrived, they found two lifeless bodies and arrested one suspect after he returned to the scene.
Police discovered that the man who returned is a Zimbabwean national who owns the vehicle.
The man was charged with robbery, and a manhunt has been launched for the other two suspects.
The arrested suspect is expected to appear at the Middleburg Magistrate's Court soon.
Meanwhile, investigators are working with the Department of Home Affairs to ascertain the status of the arrested Zimbabwean national.
The two people who were shot dead are yet to be identified.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
IOL News
Mdhluli said when police arrived, they found two lifeless bodies and arrested one suspect after he returned to the scene.
Police discovered that the man who returned is a Zimbabwean national who owns the vehicle.
The man was charged with robbery, and a manhunt has been launched for the other two suspects.
The arrested suspect is expected to appear at the Middleburg Magistrate's Court soon.
Meanwhile, investigators are working with the Department of Home Affairs to ascertain the status of the arrested Zimbabwean national.
The two people who were shot dead are yet to be identified.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
IOL News