Hijackings in South Africa have skyrocketed over the past couple of years, but the recent 2024/2025 Q2 SAPS Crime Statistics painted a picture of hope for South Africans.
The statistics revealed that there was a 9.4% decrease in hijackings during Q2. Most of the vehicles hijacked during the quarter were hatchbacks, sedans and coupes, followed by bakkies and panel vans.
As the festive season approaches, many of us will be heading out onto the road and leaving our homes for vacation destinations. Make sure you, your family and your possessions are safe during the holidays. This means taking extra precautions while driving on the roads.
Before heading out on a long road trip, you should:
• Take your car for a roadworthy inspection and make sure your tyres and brakes are in good working order.
• Check that you have a reflective triangle and a good quality flashlight that you can use to warn motorists should your car break down.
• Obey all traffic regulations when travelling and comply with the instructions of Law Enforcement officers.
• Avoid driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, which is illegal and extremely dangerous.
More people are prone to drop their guard as they enjoy the festivities, but getting lost in the moment heightens the risks of falling prey to hijackers. Here are a few hijacking prevention tips for the festive season:
• Always be alert while driving.
• When stopping at traffic lights or stop signs, ensure there is enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you to be able to get away.
• Keep your windows closed when stuck in traffic.
• Sitting in a vehicle while it is parked on the pavement increases your chances of getting hijacked. Be cautious.
• If you feel that a car might be following you, rather change routes and drive to your nearest police station.
• Most hijackings occur around your home so always be extra cautious when approaching your place of residence.
• If you have an electric gate, wait for it to open while you are still on the road before pulling into your driveway – this makes it difficult for would-be hijackers to box you in and enables you to pull away should the need arise.
• If you are opening a manual gate, leave the keys in the ignition and the engine running while doing so unless there are children in the car, in which case turn off the ignition and keep the keys with you. The keys can be used as a negotiating tool to get the children out of a hijacked vehicle to safety.
• When being told to stop by law enforcement, do so immediately.
• If you are stopped by a law enforcement vehicle but are sceptical about its legitimacy, slow down, indicate to the driver that you acknowledge him, and drive to the closest police station.
Should you or a loved one get hijacked remember to:
• Stay calm.
• Do not make direct eye contact.
• Do everything the perpetrators tell you to do.
• Do not resist, threaten, or provoke the hijackers.