Limpopo pastor arrested for fabricating hijacking story

A 68-year-old pastor has been arrested after he lied to Police that he was hijacked at gunpoint on the R37 road in Limpopo, while in fact his car had broken down due to a gearbox failure.

The man told police that on 11 April 2025 at about 09:00, he was driving to Polokwane, Capricorn, with a Daihatsu Terios when he found two males hiking on the road and offered them a lift.

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He alleged that while on the way, the two suspects hijacked him at gunpoint. He further alleged that on the same day, he found his motor vehicle on the R37 road without a gearbox.

On Friday, 02 May 2025, the pastor went to the Westenburg police station to open a case of carjacking. An investigation was subsequently conducted and led the police to a scrapyard in the Lebowakgomo area.

The owner of the scrapyard informed the police that the suspect requested the services of a tow truck after his car broke down because of gearbox failure.

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It was further discovered that the suspect was driven by his personal driver when the vehicle broke down. He paid 50 per cent money for the service of his gearbox, and it was stolen.

Later on, the Pastor admitted to the Police in Limpopo that he had lied. He changed the tune to confirm that the carjacking never took place and he was arrested for furnishing false information.

Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Samuel Manala hailed the police for being firm in pursuing the matter

“These kinds of false cases stretch the resources unnecessarily and in the process, the most deserving complaints are denied the opportunity to be attended to promptly,” said General Manala.

The pastor is expected to appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s court on Monday. He is facing a charge of furnishing false information to the police.