Motorists on South Africa’s intrinsic web of roads and freeways live with the nagging fear of being attacked, particularly being intercepted by rowdy hijackers, marauding on the roads.
Previously, IOL has reported that vehicle hijackings have remained a major headache for motorists across South Africa, with statistics showing that around 60 vehicles are hijacked per day according to figures from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Significant increases in hijackings were highlighted in provinces such as the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, with motorists having to endure the nightmare and trauma of losing one of their prized assets in seconds.
At the receiving end of the hijackings, e-hailing drivers told IOL that they are seen as easy targets as criminals find ways to lure them under the guise of wanting a ride.
Innocentia Mabaso said as a woman offering e-hailing services in and around Cape Town, she prefers working around the city centre and does not pick rides intended for certain areas.
“I am still traumatised from the experience I had in Nyanga a few years ago. I was humiliated and left naked while I fought to save my vehicle. Right now, if a client wants to be ferried to Nyanga, Harare or Delft - I will not pick that ride. I rather earn less but for me, those are no-go areas,” said the mother of two.
Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
In Gauteng, an e-hailing driver who preferred to be referred to only as Dhliwayo said he regards most townships across the province as no-go areas.
“You think I will take a trip to Mamelodi? I am not risking my hard-earned vehicle for a few hundred rands. All my associates in this business, we have our WhatsApp groups where we notify each other of the latest trends.
“There is no amount of hunger or desperation that will make me take those trips to the no-go areas. I had a traumatic experience in Soshanguve last year, and I have heard nasty stories from areas like Eersterust and Mamelodi. Those are no-go areas for me, I will not go there,” Dhliwayo insisted.
Despite the despondency and anxiety around hijackings on social media platforms, particularly X and Facebook, thousands of South Africans seem to be throwing their weight behind private security firms in recovering stolen vehicles.
On the other hand, police are also doing their part, working hand in glove with private security companies, to pursue and recover stolen vehicles.
On Tuesday, IOL reported that the Gauteng Traffic Wardens, SAPS Silverton, SAPS Mamelodi East, and two tracking companies have recovered a stolen vehicle, a Ford Everest, which was stolen around the Waltloo industrial area.
One private company which has gained acclaim for recovering hundreds of hijacked vehicles is the security team, Tshenolo Private Investigations (PI). On Facebook, thousands of endearment messages have been left by social media users.
IOL approached Tshenolo Private Investigations in Pretoria and the team was willing to answer the nagging question on the existence of no-go areas - on condition that their identities are not published, for the team's security reasons.
“No-go areas in South Africa are not a myth but the truth. No-go areas are the areas that some of us live in. If you look at areas like Winterveldt, Soshanguve Eersterust, Mamelodi and the like - those areas have become no-go areas.
“The first reason is that almost all hijackings where e-hailing vehicles are targeted happen in those areas. They request the car from town, and once they get into their specific area, they hijack the car. E-hailing drivers talk amongst themselves and they know that different drivers have been hijacked in certain areas.
Tshenolo PI believes the hijackings are often carried out at night, and motorists need to be vigilant.
IOL also spoke to renowned forensic investigator Calvin Rafadi who is a research associate at University of Johannesburg on the topic of no-go areas.
“Basically, they refer to hijacking hotspots. There are hotspot areas and in Gauteng I can mention Eersterust, Eldorado Park and some parts of Soweto. These are areas where threat analysis, in line with cases which are registered at police stations, show that there are horrific crimes which happen.
“Women who are in e-hailing business can be targeted and in some instances those women can be raped. The drivers, especially those in the e-hailing business are constantly updating each other and that is where they come to a conclusion that this certain place can be described as a no-go area. An area can be declared a no-go area at specific times,” he said.
Rafadi said e-hailing vehicles are often seen as an easy target because their vehicles, which are often Volkswagen and Toyotas, are on demand by criminals.
“Drivers are quite vulnerable. Threat analysis has shown that there are hotspot areas. These are areas which are often demarcated as no-go areas, particularly by those doing driving as a business,” he said.
As advice to motorists, Rafadi said while hijackings are traumatic experiences, motorists are encouraged to comply and communicate with the hijackers when taking off seatbelts.
“Tell the hijacker that you want to remove the safety belt. A lot of people get shot when the criminal assumes that the victim wants to pull out a gun. Remain calm and get out of the vehicle,” said Rafadi.
IOL