A search is underway in the Eastern Cape for five men who held up security personnel and stole a vehicle belonging to the department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
The provincial safety ministry said the brazen robbery took place at around 01:30 on Thursday morning at the department’s offices in Bhisho.
Spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, said five men wearing balaclavas and carrying firearms, accosted security personnel who were held at gunpoint as they demanded to be shown where the fleet management office was.
He said the men found the keys to a white double cab Nissan Navara, GGL 472 EC, and used official tags to drive off in the vehicle.
Binqose said the security officers were not harmed in the incident.
However, he pointed out that this was the tenth state vehicle that was either stolen or hijacked since the beginning of this year.
Binqose said the incident has been reported to the police for investigation and pursuit of the suspects and the stolen vehicle.
