By localnew 
Taxi Driver and Passengers Held at Gunpoint After Highway Pickup
Avoca, KwaZulu‑Natal, South Africa — A routine passenger pickup turned into a terrifying armed robbery and hijacking after a taxi driver stopped on a highway on Thursday evening to collect three men — not knowing they were armed robbers, police sources say.
The 31‑year‑old driver was operating his Toyota Quantum around 7:40 pm when he stopped on a major road — believed to include stretches of the N2 and R102 — to pick up the three suspects posing as ordinary passengers. Moments after boarding the vehicle, the men reportedly produced firearms, shocking the driver and five legitimate passengers.
Once armed, the suspects took control of the vehicle, forcing the driver to change course and follow their directions. During the ordeal, the robbers made multiple stops while threatening those inside the taxi and demanding money and valuables.
At one point the suspects forced the driver to stop at a petrol station in Verulam, where they allegedly used about R200 to refuel before continuing on. The robbers also took approximately R500 in cash and the driver’s mobile phone before abandoning the vehicle.
The harrowing episode came to an end at traffic lights in Canelands, where the suspects fled on foot after leaving the driver and remaining passengers behind. Fortunately, no physical injuries were reported, and all victims were able to walk away from the incident.
Local authorities have been notified, and police are actively investigating the incident, including efforts to track down the suspects and locate the stolen taxi.