School kids highjacking cars at gunpoint

And the Senior Superintendent of the City Police and Emergency Management Department, Gerry Shikesho, told Namibian Sun that this is the third incident reported by the police during the past weeks where school children are involved in hijacking and theft of vehicles.

The second case reported by Namibian Sun on Friday involved two Grade 10 learners from Rocky Crest High School hijacked a taxi driver at gun-point about a week ago and kept the taxi for personal use and going to school. The high school boys, aged 15 and 17, apparently removed the number plate, taxi identification number and taxi sign and put on fake number plates.

Shikesho said he was shocked and worried to learn that there are shebeens and bars allowing school children onto their premises and that they have guns.

He said the first incident was school boys who got on a taxi from Hochland Park Suburb going to Otjomuise.

“When they arrived there, they pointed a gun at the taxi driver, and the taxi driver, fearing for his life, got out of the vehicle. The taxi was later found in Hochland Park,” stated Shikesho.
The five learners, 15 to 19 years old, from the Augustineum Secondary School and one from Ella du Plessis High School, were reportedly ‘drunk and excited’ when they stole the vehicle at midnight on Friday.

And then they went for joy-ride around town.

Shikesho said the owner of the vehicle went for drink at the bar in Soweto (name withheld) and when he had had enough and wanted to go home “the driver only had the keys and the car was gone”.

The boys are expected to appear in court today or tomorrow.

Shikesho said theft of vehicles is a taboo to the City Police and they have brought it down to almost zero.

“This is a new thing coming up and we will not accept it - the moment this kind of crime is reported and the vehicle is moving on our streets, I will bring the car to a standstill. Be it a scholar or student. We will bring the vehicle to standstill,” he warned.

He added that it was worrisome when parents allow children to come home with vehicles when they know their children don’t have drivers ‘licences or money to buy a vehicle.

“As parents, we are saying what our children are doing is none of our business. We must teach our children what is appropriate”.