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Hi Jack! Might be a funny term used in many Leon Schuster movies, but it is a very different scenario to be involved in an actual hijacking. To help you become street smart and avoid catching yourself in this situation, here are some tips from Puma Energy’s Road Safety Ambassador, Phillip Kekana.
Phillip has been an advanced-driving instructor for over 15 years. The Soweto-born stuntman has taught some of South Africa`s great racing drivers like Gugu Zulu the tricks of the trade. Some of his career highlights include acting alongside the late Paul Walker of The Fast and Furious franchise, and he was also stunt driver for Idris Elba in Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.
This time, Kekana is going to teach us how to be mindful on the roads and what we should do if we ever get carjacked.
While the latest crime statistics from the South African Police Service’s show that the number of hijackings in South Africa has dropped. There is a car hijacked every 32 minutes and that equates to roughly 46 cars hijacked every day in our country.
Phillip Kekana works regularly with the Department of Community Safety in Gauteng to educate motorists on how to #BeRoadSafe by using S.M.A.R.T driving tips. Most importantly, motorists must always be alert while driving to try and avoid a hijacking scenario.
Here are some basic anti-hijacking safety tips that you can start implementing in your daily drive:
“Always be aware and constantly look at the other drivers and people around you. When you are involved in a car hijacking it is normal to panic. You must do your best to try and stay calm,” says Phillip Kekana.
Parents will always be worried about their children in a hijacking situation and it is important to know how to protect yourself and your kids should you ever encounter a carjacking.
“Your car can always be replaced, but you only have one life. Please remember to remain composed. Once the hijackers are out of sight, you can then report the hijacking to the authorities, and hopefully, the motorists that you signalled took note of the perpetrators to apprehend the criminals,” states Phillip Kekana.
If you feel that you need a hijacking prevention course, it is definitely a good idea to look at the following options:
Driving at night naturally puts you at risk as you are less likely to see a hijacker coming out of a nearby bush or from behind a road sign. Robots or traffic lights are known hotspots for hijackers, gear down when you approach a traffic light at night and slowly make your way to the line getting ready to accelerate when the traffic light turns green.
Gauteng dominates the hijacking list; however, Nyanga in the Western Cape has the highest number of carjackings.
HIJACKINGS BY PROVINCE
Province |
Reported carjackings 2018 |
Per day |
Gauteng |
8 269 |
23 |
KwaZulu Natal |
2 698 |
7 |
Western Cape |
2 182 |
6 |
Eastern Cape |
999 |
3 |
Mpumalanga |
896 |
2 |
Limpopo |
584 |
2 |
North West |
425 |
1 |
Free State |
235 |
1 |
Northern Cape |
<1 |
|
South Africa |
276 |
45 |
Source: BusinessTech
HIJACKINGS BY STATION
Station |
Province |
Reported carjackings 2018 |
Change from 2017 |
Nyanga |
Western Cape |
276 |
+7.4% |
Jeppe |
Gauteng |
262 |
+10.1% |
Booysens |
Gauteng |
198 |
-20.8% |
Honeydew |
Gauteng |
184 |
+23.5% |
Moffatview |
Gauteng |
183 |
+18.1% |
Delft |
Western Cape |
175 |
+6.7% |
Johannesburg Central |
Gauteng |
169 |
+11.9% |
Kempton Park |
Gauteng |
168 |
+15.1% |
Vosloorus |
Gauteng |
158 |
+83.7% |
Tembisa |
Gauteng |
156 |
+32.2% |
Umlazi |
KwaZulu Natal |
150 |
-2.0% |
Khayelitsha |
Western Cape |
144 |
-0.7% |
Cleveland |
Gauteng |
143 |
+23.3% |
Dobsonville |
Gauteng |
142 |
-8.4% |
Kwazakele |
Eastern Cape |
139 |
-8.6% |
Moroka |
Gauteng |
131 |
+13.9% |
Mfuleni |
Western Cape |
126 |
+22.3% |
Roodepoort |
Gauteng |
124 |
+34.8% |
Harare |
Western Cape |
124 |
-28.3% |
Bramley |
Gauteng |
123 |
+28.1% |
Mamelodi East |
Gauteng |
123 |
+0.8% |
New Brighton |
Eastern Cape |
122 |
+2.5% |
Mondeor |
Gauteng |
121 |
-9.0% |
Alexandra |
Gauteng |
120 |
+12.1% |
Soshanguve |
Gauteng |
120 |
-37.5% |
Pinetown |
KwaZulu Natal |
117 |
-50.8% |
Atteridgeville |
Gauteng |
113 |
+20.2% |
Ivory Park |
Gauteng |
112 |
-31.3% |
Florida |
Gauteng |
109 |
+21.1% |
Rietgat |
Gauteng |
108 |
-30.8% |
Source: BusinessTech
After being involved in a hijacking situation a professional trauma counsellor can help you cope. You probably will experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and go through the five stages of trauma.
The counsellor will assist you to deal with the following:
Find a trauma counsellor within two days of the incident to ensure you start talking about what happened and to identify any triggers. All traumas are different, but you should see a counsellor for roughly three months after the incident. This depends on how serious and violent the hijacking was, in severe cases you may have to see a counsellor once a week until you feel brave to conquer the roads again. Remember that you experienced a shocking crime and need to go through all the stages until you feel you can drive again. It may take weeks or months before you feel you are able to drive to the road or the place where the incident happened, but the moment you pass the site without anxiety, you will know that you have successfully overcome the trauma.
At Supa Quick, we aim to keep South Africans safe on the road. A well-maintained vehicle will not stall when you need to get away from a stressful situation like a hijacking. Visit your nearest Supa Quick fitment centre for a free vehicle safety check to ensure your car is ready for anything!
Disclaimer: This information is for educational, or entertainment purposes only. The views expressed here are not that of Supa Quick. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information on this site is at your own risk. We will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the content on this site.
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