State vehicle stolen in brazen robbery at COGTA offices in Bhisho
A daring robbery took place at the COGTA (Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs) offices in Bhisho early this morning, where five armed men made off with a state vehicle. The robbery occurred at approximately 1:30 AM when five men, clad in balaclavas and armed with firearms, entered the premises.
Eastern Cape Transport Spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, reported that three of the suspects held security personnel hostage, while the remaining two demanded to be shown the fleet management office. Inside, they found the key to a white double-cab Nissan Navara (license plate GGL 472 EC). According to Binqose, the suspects used official tags to drive off with the vehicle. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident.
This latest theft brings the total number of state vehicles stolen or hijacked in the Eastern Cape this year to 10, within just the first eight weeks of 2025. The incident has been reported to the police, and authorities are actively investigating the robbery and pursuing the suspects and the vehicle.
This attack follows growing concerns raised by the Eastern Cape Transport Department last week about the rising trend of vehicle theft and hijackings targeting state vehicles. Binqose highlighted that from January to December 2024, a staggering 55 state vehicles were stolen or hijacked. Alarmingly, 48 of these were hijacked, meaning criminals directly confronted officials before stealing the vehicles, while seven were reported as stolen.
The majority of these incidents have occurred in the OR Tambo District, including towns like Mthatha, Libode, Ngqeleni, and Qumbu. Additionally, Ngcobo in the Chris Hani District has been identified as another hotspot for vehicle theft. The stolen vehicles most commonly targeted were bakkies, particularly the Toyota Hilux GD6, followed closely by the Isuzu D-Max.
However, recovery teams working in collaboration with the SAPS have successfully located and recovered 26 of the 55 stolen vehicles, with 29 still unaccounted for.
Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha condemned the thefts, emphasizing that the state would take vigorous action to combat this criminal activity and bring the perpetrators to justice. “What is happening here is a crime not only against the state but also against civilians. These individuals or groups are willing to sabotage service delivery for their selfish reasons, and we will not tolerate this,” said MEC Nqatha. “We are working around the clock to stop these criminals and hold those responsible accountable for their actions against the state and its people.”
The investigation into the robbery at COGTA is ongoing, with authorities committed to recovering the stolen vehicle and apprehending the criminals involved.
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