The KwaZulu-Natal social development department has closed an office in Pietermaritzburg after a surge in hijackings of social workers travelling in department vehicles.
The KwaZulu-Natal social development department has pushed to the wall to close down one of its Pietermaritzburg offices after a rise in criminal attacks, including hijackings which involves social workers.
“Following a surge of hijackings of state vehicles in KwaDambuza, Pietermaritzburg, the department opted to close down its office,” the department said in a statement.
“On Monday, a social worker narrowly escaped death when hijackers accosted him in the area and fired at him before forcefully taking the state vehicle he was driving. The social worker suffered an injury to his arm and was taken to hospital for treatment.”
“Another employee of the department, who is also a social worker, was hijacked on Edendale Road while en route to Umkhanyakude district.”
Social development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza said:
“We have been losing a lot of state vehicles, with our employees assaulted and even shot.”
Khoza said the attacks posed negative effects on the department’s work.
