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City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, has issued a stark warning about an escalating crime wave targeting motorists. Private staff transport operators, scholar transport drivers, and even ordinary citizens are falling victim to ‘mafia-style’ extortion and hijacking at the hands of certain taxi operators.
Perpetrators are calling the seizing of vehicles impoundments but in reality, are carjackings. The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, expands: “When non-law enforcement individuals take your vehicle without your consent it is a hijacking. In this instance it is both a carjacking and extortion.
“The vehicles are typically taken to taxi rank offices where owners are forced to negotiate and pay for their release. These crimes particularly target vulnerable people, including workers being transported during difficult shift hours and children being taken to school.”
Herbert cautions against retrieving your vehicle without the assistance from law enforcement. “In a recent incident, police officers found not only the vehicle and significant cash but also an illegal firearm.
“For your safety, report incidents immediately and do not pay the extortionists. The City has established a call centre that will source law enforcement to retrieve vehicles and arrest perpetrators for hijacking.”
Opening a case with police is essential to reduce this new on-road risk. “Many victims walk away after their vehicles are recovered, declining to open criminal cases. This reluctance allows the extortion networks to continue operating with impunity.
“Opening cases empowers law enforcement to deal with this crime appropriately. Without formal complaints and prosecutions, these criminal networks will continue to thrive,” says Herbert.
While authorities fight these extortion networks, motorists can take their own precautions:
- Remain vigilant of your surroundings, especially when driving through unfamiliar or high-risk areas, particularly during early morning and nights
- Watch out for vehicles following you or groups of people standing at roadsides who appear to be monitoring traffic
- Vary your routes and schedules whenever possible
- Keep doors locked and windows up, particularly when stopped at traffic lights or in slow-moving traffic
If a hijacking is unavoidable:
- Do not resist or argue with the hijackers—your life is worth more than any vehicle
- Comply with all instructions calmly and avoid sudden movements that could be misinterpreted as threatening
- Hand over all valuables if demanded
- Seek a safe location as soon as it is safe to do so
- Should you find yourself in this traumatic situation, contact the City of Cape Town at 021 480 7700 for assistance
- Immediately report the incident to the SAPS