An incident of a South African e-hailing driver escaping a hijacking situation by accelerating while two suspects clung to and ultimately fell out of his car has been widely shared online, sparking a debate about how motorists should react in these situations.
The footage has caught the attention of vehicle safety experts, who warn that this should not be treated as a guide for how motorists should respond to an attempted carjacking.
“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 is no official national statistic recording how many hijacking victims are injured or killed while attempting an escape.
However, Herbert pointed out that the South African Police Service (SAPS) data has historically shown that many incidents where drivers are shot are from cases where the victims attempted to resist or draw a firearm.
The Sabinet African Journals also shows research indicating that roughly 81% of hijacking 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,” said Herbert.
“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.”
Because of this, MasterDrive advises that motorists do not confront hijackers. Herbert emphasized that a life is worth far more than any vehicle.
“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.”
He said that motorists should focus on prevention by improving their situational awareness to avoid putting themselves in these difficult positions.
Motorists should take note of unfamiliar vehicles lingering nearby, paying attention at intersections, and varying their routes and daily routine.
50 carjackings take place in South Africa every day
Crime data from the SAPS shows that at least 4,778 carjackings took place in South Africa in the third quarter of 2025.
This equates to roughly 50 incidents per day, with most occurring in Gauteng, the Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
Herbert said it is important for South Africans to learn how to safely extract themselves from situations where a hijacking becomes unavoidable, especially when the criminals are armed.
“Your potential of escaping physically unharmed by staying calm and complying will be significantly higher.”
He explained that, in most cases, the hijackers 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.”
Hatchbacks and sedans are the most targeted vehicle types in South Africa, though bakkies and panel vans are also commonly hijacked.
Fidelity Services Group CEO Wahl Bartmann warned motorists to pay attention to their surroundings when driving home, particularly as they pull into their driveways.
He said that motorists should keep valuables out of sight, carry panic buttons, and comply with criminals if confronted.
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