Hijacking wave hits South Coast

Durban - A spike in hijackings on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast has led the Amanzimtoti Community Crime Prevention Organisation to redouble its efforts to fight crime.

In separate incidents in the past week, a man has been shot and two women have been terrorised by armed hijackers.

Yesterday, a gun was held to the head of Sheryl Steyn, of Doon Heights, Amanzimtoti, and she was threatened with death by a hijacker who attempted to start her car and initially failed.

Her friend Norman Payne, a metro police dog unit member, said Steyn was badly shaken. She was receiving trauma counselling.

Steyn had gone to fetch a friend for work from her Doon Heights home when she was confronted by two hijackers.

Payne said: “Her friend had jumped into the car and Sheryl was about to reverse when she spotted a silver Hyundai Getz blocking her way.”

A gunman confronted Steyn.

“He was aggressive and demanded she and her friend get out of the car. He held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot. He was also verbally abusive.”

When the man failed to start car, he grabbed Steyn and pushed her into the driver’s seat, Payne said.

“He was fuming and ordered her at gunpoint to deactivate the immobiliser. When the car started he pushed her out and drove off.”

Steyn alerted Payne to the hijacking.

“I circulated (details of) the the vehicle and three kilometres before Umbumbulu, police spotted the suspect,” Payne said.

A gun battle ensued and the man was shot in the stomach. He is in a serious condition in hospital.

Steyn’s car was smashed and riddled with bullets.

Leone Joone, the organisation’s chairman, said that on Wednesday another Amanzimtoti woman was robbed at gunpoint of her Jeep.

A few days earlier, a man was shot in the arm after he threw his wallet to hijackers.

Joone said the man was seriously injured and may not regain the full use of his arm.

He said a spike in hijackings has been noted in recent weeks.

“It has been quiet for months. Now, all of a sudden we are being hit by a wave of hijacking. We have doubled our crime-fighting initiative, but these criminals are working ahead of us.”

Joone said some of the incidents were reported late at night and others in the early hours.

“When we patrol at night, they strike at day. It’s been difficult to keep up. But we will not back down. With the help of police there have been some arrests. I am confident this gang will be bust soon.”

Joone said it also appeared that women travelling alone were becoming soft targets for hijackers.

He appealed to women to be vigilant at all times.

KZN police spokesman Captain Thulani Zwane confirmed that Steyn had been hijacked in Long Acres Drive, Doon Heights.

Zwane said the man in custody was expected to appear in court next week on hijacking charges.

The second man remained at large.

Daily News