Pinetown detectives have arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with an attempted carjacking on 9 October in which a father opened fire on alleged hijackers, killing one of them, KwaZulu‑Natal police said.
Police make arrest after viral dashcam footage
KwaZulu‑Natal police said the arrest was made on Sunday in KwaDabeka after continued investigations by Pinetown detectives. The man is expected to appear in the Pinetown Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, police said.
According to a KZN police spokesperson, Colonel Paul Magwaza, the incident took place on 9 October on Lee Place when a father was reversing his bakkie out of a driveway with his two children on board. Dashcam footage of the incident later circulated widely on social media.
"One of the suspects allegedly started firing shots towards the father, who returned fire and fatally wounded one suspect," said Colonel Magwaza.
The footage, as described by police, shows the bakkie reversing while a boy stands at the gate. A vehicle believed to have been used by the suspects pulled up, and persons exited and approached the family vehicle. Police said one of the men is seen placing a firearm to the child at the gate, while another fired at the driver.
Charges and items recovered
Police reported that the arrested man faces several charges relating to the incident. An unlicensed firearm and 14 rounds of ammunition were recovered when he was taken into custody.
| Item | Details (as reported by police) |
|---|---|
| Suspect age | 35 years |
| Location of arrest | KwaDabeka |
| Firearm and ammunition | Unlicensed firearm and 14 rounds |
| Police charges (reported) | Attempted carjacking; attempted murder (and in some reports three counts of attempted murder); possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition |
Reports differ slightly on the precise formulation of the attempted murder charges; police statements published by different outlets describe attempted murder and in one account list three counts of attempted murder. The police spokesperson set out the circumstances of the shooting and the subsequent arrest.
What the footage appears to show
- The bakkie reverses out of the driveway with a child on the gate and another child in the passenger seat.
- A vehicle stops a short distance away; at least two men exit and approach the family vehicle.
- One man allegedly presses a firearm to the boy at the gate while another fires towards the driver.
- The father draws his own firearm and fires back from inside the bakkie; the vehicle then collides with a tree and the children are helped out by the boy at the gate.
Police said a third alleged suspect was located at a clinic, and that investigations have continued following the incident. Prosecutors will decide on formal charges when the accused appears in court.
Local context and consequences
The incident has unsettled residents in the suburb where it occurred, with dashcam and cellphone videos spreading quickly across local WhatsApp groups and social platforms. Pinetown has seen periodic spikes in vehicle-related crime that keep motorists and neighbourhood watch groups on edge. This case places greater scrutiny on policing responses to hijackings and on the legal questions surrounding civilians who use firearms in self-defence.
Magistrates will consider the evidence presented by detectives and the Crown when the matter appears in court. For now, police investigations continue and authorities have urged anyone with further footage or information to come forward to assist with the case.
Members of the community concerned about safety in Pinetown can contact the Pinetown police station with information, and the SAPS priority crime unit continues to follow up leads in the matter.
