Uber driver fights back during armed hijacking attempt
Three men are behind bars after a bungled hijacking in Durban turned violent when their intended victim fought back, leaving two of the suspects with serious stab injuries that sent them to hospital — where police were waiting.
The dramatic sequence of events unfolded on Tuesday evening at approximately 20h30 when crime prevention officers on patrol in the Durban central business district received a tip-off about an attempted hijacking in progress on Castle Hill Road in Newlands West.
According to police, three men aged between 20 and 30 targeted an Uber driver, with one of the suspects allegedly brandishing a firearm during the attack. The driver, however, refused to become a victim and defended himself by stabbing the assailants with a sharp object.
"The victim retaliated by stabbing the suspects with a sharp object, which resulted in the suspects fleeing into a nearby bush, and two of them sustained severe stab wounds."
The injured suspects were forced to seek medical treatment, and officers quickly received intelligence that the wounded men were making their way to a hospital in the city centre. A joint team comprising Durban Central members and Provincial Crime Intelligence operatives moved swiftly to the medical facility.
Suspects linked to previous carjacking
Upon arriving at the hospital, officers apprehended all three suspects. Two were found in a serious condition receiving treatment for their stab wounds, while the third was uninjured. A firearm with its serial number filed off was also seized during the arrest.
Further investigation revealed that the trio are also wanted in connection with a separate carjacking committed in Inanda during the previous month, adding to the gravity of the charges they now face.
"On further investigation it was established that the suspects are also wanted in another carjacking committed at Inanda last month."
The two hospitalised suspects remain under constant police guard while they recover from their injuries. All three men are expected to appear before the Durban Magistrate's Court in the coming days to face charges of attempted carjacking. The recovery of the illegal firearm may result in additional charges being brought against the suspects.
Rising carjacking incidents targeting ride-hailing drivers threaten the gig economy that thousands of South Africans depend on for their livelihoods. The arrest of suspects linked to multiple hijackings may offer temporary relief to drivers operating in high-risk areas like Durban, but the prevalence of illegal firearms remains a deep concern. Swift collaboration between crime prevention units and intelligence operatives suggests improved policing coordination, though sustained efforts will be needed to curb vehicle-related crimes in urban centres.
