Portfolio Exercise 5: Crime Blogging

Lunch turns into hijacking nightmare

A simple lunch at Sadtu Park on Edgar Charlton Crescent became a living hell for former police officer Dejay Maharaj (50) when three male suspects armed with a firearm and a cane knife entered his vehicle on Wednesday, November 20.

One of the suspects seated himself in the front passenger seat and held a gun to Maharaj’s waist while the other two suspects occupied the back passengers’ seat. The suspects ordered him to drive to an isolated area in New Guelderland where he was pulled out of the vehicle and strip searched for valuables.
 
His jewellery and wallet which contained R3000 cash, were taken. While the suspects were counting the money, Maharaj tried to escape to suspects went back into his vehicle and locking the door. On noticing Maharaj trying to escape the suspects went back to the vehicle and pointed a gun at the driver’s window.

One of suspects tried to fire however, the gun jammed, while another suspect used the cane knife to smash the front window. Maharaj said the suspects pulled him out of the vehicle and assaulted him with a steel block and the cane knife. “I was also hit on the head with gun and sustained serious injuries. I was pushed back into the vehicle and driven to another location where my hands and feet were bound. I was then asked for the pin numbers for my bank cards. Once the suspects had obtained the pin, one of the suspects left on foot to withdraw the money while the others guarded me.”

“An hour later, the suspect returned and gestured that he had withdrawn cash.” The suspects then loosened Maharaj’s hands, and asked him to lie face down on the ground for two hours. After the suspects fled, he rushed to his vehicle and drove home.

He was admitted to Alberlito hospital for treatment of his injuries and was discharged two days later. He is now recovering at his home. A case of hijacking has been opened at the KwaDukuza SAPF.