Major driving company issues warning about hijackings in South Africa
A recent incident of a South African e-hailing driver who escaped an attempted hijacking by accelerating away while two suspects clung to his vehicle has attracted widespread attention.
However, while the footage has been widely shared online, road safety experts warn that it should not be seen as a guide for how motorists should respond during a hijacking.
“For every clip of a driver escaping unharmed, there are significantly more cases where fighting back or resisting has ended in gunfire, serious injury, or death,” said MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert.
There are no official statistics showing how many hijacking victims are injured or killed after attempting to escape or retaliate.
However, Herbert noted that South African Police Service (SAPS) data has historically shown that many incidents in which drivers are shot involve victims trying to resist or draw a firearm.
Research published in Sabinet African Journals also estimates that 81% of carjacking victims suffer physical trauma.
“What percentage of this is because of evasive action is unclear. What is clear is that hijackers are typically armed and prepared to use force the moment they sense resistance,” Herbert said.
“There are often also additional accomplices positioned out of sight, ready to intervene with violence if a driver tries to fight or flee. A dramatic escape can go right. Statistically, however, the instances of this are in the minority.”
For this reason, MasterDrive continues to advise motorists not to confront hijackers. “Carjacking victims should not resist or argue, because a life is worth far more than any vehicle,” he said.
“Material objects like cars can be replaced with far less trauma and even costs, but a life cannot. Taking a gamble, believing you will be the exception, not the rule, is a risky game to play.”
Instead, he said motorists should focus on preventing dangerous situations before they develop by improving their situational awareness.
This includes watching for unfamiliar vehicles lingering nearby, varying regular routes and routines, remaining alert at intersections and isolated stops.
Hijacking numbers are still alarmingly high in South Africa
“If a carjacking becomes unavoidable, training in how to extract oneself safely offers far better odds than improvisation under threat of armed and unpredictable criminals,” he said.
“Your potential of escaping physically unharmed by staying calm and complying will be significantly higher.”
He added that in most hijackings, criminals are primarily interested in stealing the vehicle rather than harming the driver.
“Once the vehicle is handed over, most incidents end there. The driver who escaped by speeding away was lucky, but luck and skill are not safety strategies.
“Awareness and extraction knowledge is. Prioritising a calm, compliant exit over a dramatic one is not weakness but far more likely to get you home safely. A vehicle can be replaced, but a life cannot.”
The warning comes as hijackings remain a significant concern across South Africa.
According to SAPS crime statistics for the third quarter of 2025, covering October to December, there were 4,778 reported carjackings nationwide. This equates to roughly 50 hijackings every day.
The highest number of incidents was recorded in Gauteng, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
Sedans, hatchbacks and coupes remained the vehicles most frequently targeted, although bakkies and panel vans were also commonly hijacked.
Tracker’s latest vehicle crime statistics also show changing patterns in criminal activity. Between July and December 2025, hijackings were most commonly reported on Tuesdays between 16:00 and 21:00.
This is a shift from the first half of the year when Thursdays were identified as the peak period. Vehicle theft, meanwhile, continued to occur most often on Saturdays between 11:00 and 16:00.
Fidelity Services Group CEO Wahl Bartmann has similarly urged motorists to remain vigilant, avoid predictable routines, and stay alert when arriving home.
He added that motorists should keep valuables out of sight, comply if confronted by hijackers, and consider carrying portable panic buttons to summon assistance quickly in an emergency.
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