Police in Mpumalanga has warned people not to create impression that crime is on the rise by reporting false cases.

A 36-year-old female was granted R3000 bail after she was arrested for faking hijacking.

Antoinette Chiloane from Bushbuckrigde made a brief appearance before Bushbuckrigde Magistrate’s Court today, Friday 21 November 2022, after she previously reported a false hijacking case that occurred in Saselani in Bushbuckrigde.

According to Chiloane, she lied under oath that she was traveling alone with her VW Polo when she was approached by three suspects who pointed her with firearms.

According to the suspect, she was forcefully pushed into the back of her car and the suspects drove off with her.

She further alleged that she was dropped off at Hlamalani where she was under guard by one of the hijackers who later left her alone.

Chiloane later reported the case to the police. The car was recovered in Acornhoek policing area after it was intercepted during the commission of crime.

It was found loaded with properties which were allegedly stolen from the hijacked truck.

The hijackers fled the scene leaving the vehicle unattended.

Chiloane was taken for further investigation whereby she disclosed that she faked her hijacking, but she voluntarily given the car to her boyfriend for the planned delivery truck hijacking.

She was arrested hence her appearance in court where she was released on R3000 bail and is expected to make her second appearance on Monday, 07 November 2022.

The suspect’s boyfriend and his accomplices are still on the run.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela welcomed the arrest and warned community members not to report false cases as besides being the case.  On its own, such reports deprive other community members who need services from the police assistance.

Source: South African Police Service