POLOKWANE – The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has issued a warning against the practice of hitchhiking and offering lifts to hitchhikers. The caution comes in the wake of several violent incidents, which have put the lives of participants in hitchhiking at considerable risk.

According to a news release by South African Police Service, the latest incident took place on Thursday, 19 October 2023, when a 55-year-old man hitchhiked a Suzuki Swift near Mall of the North in the Polokwane policing precinct. The man was heading to Ga-Dikgale when three unknown individuals allegedly diverted from the intended route, brandished weapons, and robbed him of his belongings valued at R5400-00 before fleeing the scene.

In a separate incident on Friday, 20 October, outside Seshego, two individuals, aged 24 and 25, hitchhiked a lift in a silver Tazz Conquest motor vehicle. The driver allegedly took a wrong turn, displayed a firearm, and robbed the victims of items worth R7000-00.

Another violent incident occurred along Georges Valley on Friday, 13 October. A male and female motorist offered a lift to two unknown men. Subsequently, the male motorist was killed, the female motorist was raped and left in the bushes, and the vehicle was later found burned in the Letsitele policing area.

Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe advised the public to refrain from hitchhiking or offering lifts to unknown individuals. She recommended that those who work late hours should utilize public transportation or company-provided transport as a safer alternative.

“I wish to call upon community members to resist the temptation of engaging in hitchhiking as they could endanger their lives in the process,” said Gen Hadebe.

The police have yet to make any arrests related to these incidents and are encouraging anyone with information to contact the nearest police station or the Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS App.