Key Takeaways
- A group of schoolchildren witnessed a violent car‑jacking outside SRS Primary School in Overport, Durban, on a Wednesday morning.
- Armed hijackers in a silver Renault Triber forced the driver of an Audi out of the vehicle, pulled two children from the back seat, and later abandoned the stripped‑down car in KwaMashu.
- CCTV footage from the school captured the entire incident, providing crucial evidence for investigators.
- Police opened a car‑jacking case at Mayville SAPS and are pursuing leads from the video and witness statements.
- In a separate operation, crime‑intelligence‑driven police raided an alleged hijacking syndicate in Orange Farm, resulting in a shootout, the arrest of 17 suspects, and the disruption of planned truck hijackings on the N1.
- Additional hijacking attempts were reported in the Western Cape (targeting a Social Development employee) and Gauteng (linked to a high‑speed chase, kidnapping, and the theft of an Omoda).
- National crime statistics for Q4 2025/2026 show a decline in car‑jackings: 3,609 incidents reported nationwide, down from 5,402 in the same period of 2022.
- Gauteng remains the hardest‑hit province (2,062 incidents), with Johannesburg’s Alexandra station recording the highest number (63), while KwaZulu‑Natal’s Umlazi ranks fifth (52).
Durban Schoolchildren Witness Brazen Hijacking
On a typical Wednesday morning, learners from SRS Primary School in Overport, Durban, were dropped off by their parents when a sudden, shocking scene unfolded right outside the school gates. A silver Renault Triber pulled up alongside a parked Audi, and several armed men sprang out, immediately threatening the driver with a firearm. The hijackers ordered him out of the car, creating a tense and frightening atmosphere that was witnessed by dozens of children who had just arrived for school. The incident not only endangered the driver and his family but also exposed young pupils to a traumatic crime in broad daylight, raising concerns about safety around school zones.
Details of the Hijacking and CCTV Evidence
According to reports from Secure SA private security, the hijackers approached the Audi, pointed a gun at the driver, and forced him to exit the vehicle. One assailant reached through the driver’s window, while another moved to the passenger side, opened the rear door, and pulled out two children who had been seated in the back. The family was quickly surrounded as additional hijackers took up positions at all doors of the Audi. A minibus taxi arrived shortly thereafter, offloading schoolchildren who remained oblivious to the drama unfolding beside them. Other pupils stood at the school entrance, watching the ordeal as one hijacker pinned the driver against a wall while his accomplices attempted to start the car. The suspects appeared to be negotiating with the owner, seemingly seeking his help to get the vehicle moving. Throughout the ordeal, a CCTV camera mounted on the school premises recorded the entire sequence, providing investigators with clear visual evidence of the perpetrators’ actions, the vehicle’s make and color, and the timing of the incident.
Police Response and Investigation
Lieutenant‑Colonel Paul Magwaza, spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS), confirmed that a case of car‑jacking was opened at the Mayville SAPS station. He stated that the victim had parked his Audi outside the school on West Road when suspects accosted him, robbed him of his vehicle and cellphones, and fled the scene. The recorded CCTV footage has been handed over to detectives, who are using it to identify the suspects, trace their movements, and potentially link them to other criminal activities. Secure SA’s Zain Soosiwala reported that the hijacked Audi was later tracked to KwaMashu, north of Durban, where it was found with its interior stripped and damaged—an indication that the hijackers intended to dismantle the vehicle for parts or to erase forensic traces.
Hijacking Syndicate Dismantled in Orange Farm
In a parallel development, SAPS announced the success of a crime‑intelligence‑driven operation targeting an alleged hijacking syndicate. Acting on information about a planned truck hijacking along the N1 highway, police mobilized units to Orange Farm on a Tuesday morning. The operation escalated into a shootout, during which law‑enforcement officers exchanged fire with the suspects. The confrontation ended with the arrest of 17 individuals believed to be members of the syndicate. Authorities have not disclosed the exact charges, but the suspects are expected to face multiple counts related to illegal possession of firearms, conspiracy to commit robbery, and attempted hijacking. The raid is viewed as a significant blow to organized car‑jacking networks that have been operating along major transport corridors in Gauteng.
Additional Hijacking Incidents in Western Cape and Gauteng
While the Orange Farm operation made headlines, other hijacking‑related crimes were reported elsewhere. In the Western Cape, three employees of the Social Development Department were targeted in hijackings or attempted hijackings within a single week in Khayelitsha. The most serious incident involved a policy developer from the department’s Child Protection programme, who was conducting a monitoring visit to a non‑profit organization when she was ambushed in an attempted hijacking; during the struggle, a shot was fired, though she emerged unharmed. In Gauteng, police pursued a high‑speed chase after the hijacking of an Omoda vehicle in Centurion on a Saturday. The chase led to the arrest of a 47‑year‑old man who is also suspected of kidnapping two individuals during the incident. These cases illustrate that hijacking threats persist across different provinces and often intersect with other violent crimes such as kidnapping and assault.
National Carjacking Statistics Show Decline
The SAPS released its national crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year (January – March 2026). According to the data, 3,609 car‑jacking incidents were reported nationwide during this period. This figure represents a noticeable decline compared to the same quarter in previous years: between January 2022 and March 2022, 5,402 car‑jackings were recorded, while the January 2025 – March 2025 period saw 4,533 incidents. The downward trend suggests that recent law‑enforcement interventions, public awareness campaigns, and possibly improved vehicle security measures are beginning to have an impact on reducing the prevalence of car‑jackings across South Africa.
Regional Breakdown and Hotspot Areas
The statistics also reveal a clear geographic disparity in car‑jacking occurrences. Gauteng remains the province most affected, accounting for 2,062 of the 3,609 national incidents—more than half of the total. Within Gauteng, the Johannesburg precinct of Alexandra topped the list of police stations, recording 63 car‑jackings in the quarter. KwaZulu‑Natal contributed 446 incidents, with its Umlazi station ranking fifth nationally at 52 incidents. Other provinces reported significantly lower numbers, reflecting the concentration of criminal activity in major urban hubs where high traffic volumes and valuable vehicles present attractive targets for criminal groups.
Trends and Implications for Public Safety
The combination of a high‑profile hijacking witnessed by schoolchildren, the successful dismantling of a syndicate in Orange Farm, and the broader decline in reported car‑jackings paints a nuanced picture of South Africa’s crime landscape. While the overall numbers are decreasing, the persistence of brazen attacks—especially those occurring near schools and involving vulnerable populations—highlights the need for continued vigilance. The CCTV footage from the Durban incident underscores the value of surveillance technology in both deterring crime and aiding investigations. Likewise, intelligence‑led operations such as the Orange Farm raid demonstrate that targeting organized networks can yield tangible results. Moving forward, authorities may consider expanding community‑based safety programs, enhancing security around educational institutions, and fostering greater cooperation between private security firms and SAPS to sustain the downward trend in car‑jackings and protect citizens from sudden, violent crime.