Inspector Sanku Tsunke said a truck carrying R70 000 worth of goods was hijacked in Vanderbijlpark on Tuesday evening.

Three Somali nationals, a driver and two crew, were travelling in the truck when it was stopped by two men pretending to be police officers.

The two phoney officers held the three Somalis at gunpoint and assaulted them.

The three Somalis were ordered out of the truck and the two men were joined by two other men believed to be accomplices.

The four men then hijacked the truck. The cargo, which included blankets, duvets, sheets and pots, was unloaded at a Lenasia South house.

The Johannesburg's Crime Intelligence and Organised Crime units received a tip-off about the cargo and recovered the R70 000 cargo at the house.

"The policeman was found at the premises and he alleged that he is a tenant at the house. He was, however, apprehended together with the proprietor. The policeman is a police Inspector stationed at Lenasia South SAPS," Tsunke said.

The officer and his landlord were in custody on charges of possession of suspected stolen property.

The cargo was returned to its rightful owner.

The hijacked truck had not been recovered and "intensive investigations are continuing regarding its whereabouts," Tsunke said.