EAST LONDON - The Eastern Cape Transport Department has condemned the theft and hijackings of state vehicles.
To date, at least 55 vehicles were targeted by criminals last year. Of this number 48 were hijacked.
Eastern Cape Transport Department’s spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, says the 55 vehicles stolen between January 2024 and December 2024 is alarming and that the same trend will continue in 2025.
According to Binqose, this year at least 9 state vehicles have been targeted.
"This means that the trend of one vehicle being stolen per week continues and it is something that we need to stand up against as it is now threatening service delivery," he said.
Binqose noted that the most targeted vehicles are the Toyota Hilux GD6 and Isuzu D-Max which form the bulk of their fleet as well as minibus taxis.
Meanwhile Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha has warned that the state will do everything to bring perpetrators of these crimes to justice.