Hijacking warning for motorists in South Africa’s biggest cities

Nearly a year after the City of Cape Town issued a warning about escalating crime targeting motorists, citizens are still falling victim to ‘mafia-style’ extortion and hijacking.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, warned that private staff transport operators, scholar transport drivers, and even ordinary citizens were being targeted.

While these crimes remain most prevalent in the Mother City, e-hailing drivers have taken to social media to highlight the national increase in hijackings and extortion by criminals claiming to be law enforcement.

As a result, MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert has reminded motorists and their passengers of the legality of this practice and how to navigate it should they find themselves in this high-risk scenario.  

He explained that perpetrators call the illegal seizure of vehicles impoundment, while in reality, it is a carjacking.

“When non-law enforcement individuals take your vehicle without your consent, it is a hijacking. In this instance, it is both a carjacking and extortion,” explained Herbert.

According to the CEO, that is because in instances of extortion, vehicles are typically taken to taxi rank offices where their owners are forced to negotiate and pay for their release.

He added that these crimes particularly target vulnerable drivers and passengers, including workers being transported during difficult shift hours and children being taken to school.

Retrieving a vehicle without the assistance of legitimate law enforcement officers has also become dangerous, since these criminals tend to be armed.

“In a recent incident, police officers found not only the vehicle and significant cash but also an illegal firearm,” explained Herbert.

“For your safety, report incidents immediately and do not pay the extortionists. Cape Town has a call centre that sources law enforcement to retrieve vehicles and arrest perpetrators for hijacking.”

He added that in Gauteng, the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) Internal Affairs unit has ‘red-handed’ stings where law enforcement arrest perpetrators who extort drivers under the guise of impoundments or traffic fines.

How to protect yourself

Herbert explained that while authorities fight these extortion networks, motorists can take their own precautions to avoid becoming victims.

Some of these include:

• Remain vigilant of your surroundings, especially when driving through unfamiliar or high-risk areas, particularly during early mornings and nights
• Watch out for vehicles following you or groups of people standing at roadsides who appear to be monitoring traffic
• Vary your routes and schedules whenever possible
• Keep doors locked and windows up, particularly when stopped at traffic lights or in slow-moving traffic

He added that if hijacking or extortion is unavoidable, motorists can take steps to preserve their lives and assist in taking down these networks.

These are:

• Do not resist or argue with the hijackers, as your life is worth more than any vehicle
• Comply with all instructions calmly and avoid sudden movements that could be misinterpreted as threatening
• Hand over all valuables if demanded
• Seek a safe location as soon as it is safe to do so
• Should you find yourself in this traumatic situation, contact the City of Cape Town at 021 480 7700 for assistance or the national SAPS emergency number 10111
• Immediately report the incident to the SAPS

According to Herbert, that final step is one of the most important to reduce the new road risk in South Africa.

“Many victims walk away after their vehicles are recovered, declining to open criminal cases. This reluctance allows the extortion networks to continue operating with impunity,” he said.

“Reporting cases empowers law enforcement to deal with this crime appropriately. Without formal complaints and prosecutions, these criminal networks will continue to thrive.”