ATM withdrawal turns violent in Esikhaleni
Two separate armed attacks in KwaZulu-Natal have left residents shaken, with one victim hospitalised after being shot during a brazen hijacking at a popular coastal parking area.
In the early hours of 21 March 2017, at approximately 02:00, a 31-year-old man was targeted by three armed suspects while withdrawing money from an ATM in the Esikhaleni area. The attackers allegedly confronted the victim at gunpoint before forcing him into his own vehicle and restraining him.
The suspects made off with an undisclosed sum of cash along with the victim's cellphone, later abandoning him in nearby bushes. A case has been registered at Esikhaleni police station, though no arrests have yet been made and none of the stolen property has been recovered.
"Police investigations continue."
Victim shot and hijacked at Park Rynie Beach
In a separate incident on the same day, a 55-year-old man was shot and his vehicle hijacked by two suspects at the Park Rynie Beach parking area in Scottsburg. Officers from the local station responded swiftly after being alerted to the attack.
Upon arriving at the scene, police were met by a resident who reported that the wounded victim had made his way to a nearby home to seek help. The attackers fled with the man's white Isuzu bakkie and cellphone.
The injured victim was rushed to G.J. Crookes Hospital where he received medical treatment for his gunshot wound. A case has been opened at Scottsburg police station and detectives are pursuing leads in the investigation.
No arrests have been made in connection with either incident, and authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward as investigations into both cases remain ongoing.
These violent incidents in KwaZulu-Natal highlight the persistent threat armed criminals pose to ordinary South Africans conducting routine activities such as ATM withdrawals or visiting public spaces. Such attacks erode community confidence and can discourage tourism along the KZN South Coast, affecting local businesses that depend on visitor foot traffic. With no arrests made in either case, pressure mounts on police to deliver results and reassure residents that public safety remains a priority.
