Zainul Dawood|Published
Dashcam footage of a bakkie driver shooting at alleged hijackers in Durban has gone viral on social media on Thursday.
The incident allegedly occurred in the Pinetown area on October 9, 2026.
Police are still confirming with Pinetown SAPS whether a case was registered.
In the video, the bakkie driver and his daughter, seated next to him, can be seen exiting their driveway, while a boy believed to be his son stands at the gate.
A vehicle allegedly used by the hijackers passes him and stops a short distance away.
A man got out of the vehicle and ran towards the bakkie.
According to a source, the man ran to the boy at the gate and put a gun to his head, while a second hijacker got out the vehicle, drew a firearm, and fired at the bakkie driver.
The source said a third hijacker was found at a clinic.
It is alleged that three men were killed in the incident, but this still has to be confirmed by police.
The Footage
In the video, the bakkie owner drew his firearm and shoots out of his window.
His hands are not on the steering wheel. The bakkie rolls forward and comes to a halt against a tree. The windscreen of the vehicle can be seen with cracks. The bakkie driver's son then comes to the side of the vehicle and takes out his sister from the passenger seat while the bakkie driver continues to shoot out of the window.
Andreas Mathios, spokesperson for private security company Marshall Security, said this kind of incident demonstrates how self-defence and a justifiable shooting come together in South Africa, which is “riddled with corruption, especially where firearms go missing”.
Mathios was concerned as to how criminals get access to firearms to commit these crimes.
“This man is a hero. He firstly and instinctively made sure his family was safe. He was consistently alert, and even though there was some sort of delay in returning fire when he was fired upon, at the right time he managed to return fire and neutralised the threat,” Mathios said.
“He protected his family, and he did everything by the book. I commend him for his actions. Also, people must take into consideration the time it takes for a hijacker to get off the vehicle. We try to consistently educate the community to be alert,” he added.
Reaction time to a robbery
Mathios said that during these incidents, the victim seldom has time to react and has to make split-second decisions at the spur of the moment.
“This could be the difference between life and death. If you are accosted by a hijacker and you are not trained in using a firearm, do not make eye contact, submit, hand over the vehicle, and walk away from the scene as quickly as possible with hands in the air. Show the suspect you mean no harm and walk away,” Mathios advised.