The Braai’s Off: Police Foil R500,000 Meat Truck Hijacking Ahead of Festive Season

The Braai’s Off: Police Foil R500,000 Meat Truck Hijacking Ahead of Festive Season

What was supposed to be a big score for a group of alleged hijackers ended with six men behind bars and not behind a braai stand.

Police in the North West say they’ve intercepted a truck hijacking involving a R500,000 shipment of meat on the R559 road between Carletonville and Randfontein, just as festive season crimes begin to rise across South Africa.

The suspects, aged between 28 and 48, were nabbed during a coordinated operation that involved nearly every specialist unit in the book, from the Anti-Gang and Drug Task Teams to the Tactical Response Team (TRT), Johannesburg K9, and private security partners.

An Inside Job Stopped in Its Tracks

According to provincial police spokesperson Colonel Adéle Myburgh, the sting was set in motion after officers received a tip-off about a planned hijacking targeting a delivery truck en route from Potchefstroom.

By the time the hijackers made their move at around 7:45am on Thursday, police were already in position. Within minutes, the truck, along with its precious cargo of meat, was recovered intact. Officers also seized three other vehicles believed to have been used in the crime.

The six suspects are now facing charges of hijacking and kidnapping, and will appear in the Carletonville Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 3 November 2025.

Truck Hijackings on the Rise

While the case reads like a scene from a crime series, it reflects a far more serious national issue. South Africa has seen a troubling surge in truck hijackings, particularly targeting vehicles transporting food, meat, alcohol, and fuel.

Police data shows a spike during the last quarter of 2024, a time when syndicates often go into overdrive ahead of the holiday season.

“Some of these groups treat hijackings as their ‘December bonus’,” said a senior police source. “They focus on goods that are easy to sell, and meat tops that list during festive times.”

From Gauteng’s highways to the North West’s rural routes, food cargo has become a lucrative black-market commodity, often ending up in unregulated butcheries and informal markets.

Praise for Police Coordination

Acting North West Provincial Commissioner, Major General Ryno Naidoo, praised the success of the operation, calling it a textbook example of intelligence-led policing.

“This is what happens when information is shared and planning is coordinated,” he said. “The collaboration between provincial units, private security, and community networks is crucial in keeping our roads and supply chains safe.”

The joint effort highlights how policing in South Africa has evolved to tackle crime syndicates that move seamlessly across provincial borders.

Festive Season Crackdown

With December around the corner, police have confirmed that more joint operations are planned along major transport routes, especially in high-risk areas like the N12 corridor, where food and fuel trucks are frequently targeted.

Logistics companies are being urged to tighten security, install real-time tracking systems, and vary their delivery routes to avoid becoming easy prey.

No Easy Pickings for Would-Be Hijackers

For the six men who allegedly thought they could “braai their way” into the festive season, their plan has gone up in smoke.

And for the SAPS, this bust is a clear signal that the country’s law enforcement isn’t letting its guard down, not even as the holiday season kicks off.

As Major General Naidoo put it:

“When criminals make their move, we’ll already be there waiting.”

{Source: IOL}

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