Three cigarette delivery vans were robbed in East London and Transkei in separate incidents yesterday.
This brings the number of British American Tobacco (BAT) robberies reported in the past week to nine.
The international company said yesterday the spate of hijacks would not stop it from operating in the Eastern Cape. “While we strongly condemn actions of this nature, BAT South Africa has no intention of leaving the Eastern Cape,” said spokeswoman Tabby Tsengiwe.
It is estimated the company lost about R760000 worth of stock yesterday alone.
The biggest hit was in Transkei, when at 10.30am a truck bound for Mqanduli with 38 boxes of cigarettes was forced off the road by a black BMW sedan with no registration plates.
Eastern Cape police said when the truck stopped on the main road between Viedgesville and Mqanduli, three men got out of the BMW armed with pistols and ordered the BAT drivers to open the back of the truck.
A van arrived shortly after that and the men loaded 38 boxes, each valued at R20000.
Then they fled.
Mqanduli police spokesman Major Zamukulungisa Jozana confirmed the incident, saying a case of armed robbery was being investigated. He said no suspects had been arrested yet.
In East London, police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana said police had intensified patrols and their investigation to determine the root cause of these robberies.
“We also plan to work closely with the tobacco companies to ensure that we prevent these robberies,” he said.
Shortly before he spoke, two BAT vans were robbed minutes apart – one in Nompumelelo, Beacon Bay and the other in Southernwood.
Speaking about the incidents Tana said: “In Nompumelelo four armed with handguns, driving a Ford Ranger, took boxes of cigarettes from the driver.”
In St Georges Street Southernwood, a BAT driver was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash by two men while delivering cigarettes.
Tana said the robbers drove a white Mazda bakkie with no registration plates. Police said BAT employees had cooperated in the attacks and had not been injured.
Tana said anyone with information on the robberies was asked to contact East London police at 08600-10111 or 043-701-9000 or 043-722-5555. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Three hijacks in one day
This brings the number of British American Tobacco (BAT) robberies reported in the past week to nine.
The international company said yesterday the spate of hijacks would not stop it from operating in the Eastern Cape. “While we strongly condemn actions of this nature, BAT South Africa has no intention of leaving the Eastern Cape,” said spokeswoman Tabby Tsengiwe.
It is estimated the company lost about R760000 worth of stock yesterday alone.
The biggest hit was in Transkei, when at 10.30am a truck bound for Mqanduli with 38 boxes of cigarettes was forced off the road by a black BMW sedan with no registration plates.
Eastern Cape police said when the truck stopped on the main road between Viedgesville and Mqanduli, three men got out of the BMW armed with pistols and ordered the BAT drivers to open the back of the truck.
A van arrived shortly after that and the men loaded 38 boxes, each valued at R20000.
Then they fled.
Mqanduli police spokesman Major Zamukulungisa Jozana confirmed the incident, saying a case of armed robbery was being investigated. He said no suspects had been arrested yet.
In East London, police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana said police had intensified patrols and their investigation to determine the root cause of these robberies.
“We also plan to work closely with the tobacco companies to ensure that we prevent these robberies,” he said.
Shortly before he spoke, two BAT vans were robbed minutes apart – one in Nompumelelo, Beacon Bay and the other in Southernwood.
Speaking about the incidents Tana said: “In Nompumelelo four armed with handguns, driving a Ford Ranger, took boxes of cigarettes from the driver.”
In St Georges Street Southernwood, a BAT driver was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash by two men while delivering cigarettes.
Tana said the robbers drove a white Mazda bakkie with no registration plates. Police said BAT employees had cooperated in the attacks and had not been injured.
Tana said anyone with information on the robberies was asked to contact East London police at 08600-10111 or 043-701-9000 or 043-722-5555. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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