MFULENI – A morning commute turned into a terrifying ordeal for a scholar transport driver and her young passengers when their vehicle was hijacked at gunpoint in Wesbank on Friday. The incident, which occurred around 7.50am in Waterblom Street, has left the community reeling and the owner of the transport service fearing for her livelihood.
Elizabeth Lotz, who owns Libby’s Scholar Transport, explained that her white Nissan NP200 bakkie, registration CF 290 839, was being used to drop off learners from Riverside at schools in Wesbank. On Friday morning, another woman was driving the route in her place.
"Myself and another woman take turns to drop the children but it is my bakkie," Elizabeth said. "We just drop learners from Riverside who attend school in Wesbank, but on [Friday] morning the other woman dropped off the children."
As the driver approached a speedbump, a maroon Volkswagen Polo with tinted windows swerved in front of the bakkie, blocking its path. "One guy jumped out of the Polo with a gun, opened the bakkie and hit the driver over the head with the head and rukked her out," Elizabeth recounted.
According to Elizabeth, there were two hijackers involved, one who brandished the firearm and another who drove the getaway Polo.
Elizabeth's daughter, who was also in the bakkie on her way to college, found herself caught in the chaos. "My daughter who was on her way to college was struggling with the safety belt and when she wanted to grab her phone, the driver pointed her with the gun," Elizabeth explained. "He wanted to grab her but she left her phone and shoes and jumped out of the bakkie. The children also started jumping out of the bakkie. The hijacker jumped in the bakkie and took off.”
The hijackers sped off with the bakkie, leaving the children stranded on the side of the road, along with their school bags and two cellphones.
"Thankfully everyone is OK," Elizabeth said, relieved that no one was seriously injured. "They are in shock but nothing happened to them. The principal from one of the schools came to get the learners at the scene, while we were waiting for the police and the high-school learner’s parents came to fetch her."
The incident has had a profound impact on Elizabeth, who relies on the scholar transport service to make ends meet. "This is the first time that something like this has happened to me," she said. "The scholar transport is my bread and butter, so I need my bakkie to be able to generate an income.”
Police spokesperson Anelisiwe Manyana confirmed that a case of carjacking has been registered and is under investigation.
"Mfuleni police opened a case of carjacking for further investigation following an incident that took place on Friday 9 May 2025 in Waterbloom, Wesbank," Manyana stated.
"According to reports the complainant was driving at the mentioned address when a Volkswagen Polo vehicle drove past at a high speed and quickly stopped in front of her vehicle. It is alleged that one of the occupants jumped out with a firearm in his hand and instructed her to get out of the vehicle. The suspect hit the complainant on the head with a firearm and drove off with her vehicle."
The unknown suspect who fled the scene is yet to be arrested.
Police are appealing to anyone who may have information regarding this incident to please contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to locate the stolen vehicle and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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