A man from Durban succumbed to injuries after being shot during a hijacking in Reservoir Hills, on Wednesday night, highlighting the ongoing issue of violent crime in the area.
According to a source, the man drove into his garage and was followed in by another vehicle.
The source said neighbours then heard a gunshot.
When they investigated, they found the man injured in the garage and his car had been taken. He was rushed to the hospital by his family.
The SAPS national crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year revealed that between January 2026 and March 2026, there were 3,609 carjacking incidents reported across South Africa. In KwaZulu-Natal, 446 incidents were reported in that period, while Gauteng recorded 2,062 incidents.
Among the top 30 police stations for carjackings, Johannesburg’s Alexandra area recorded the most with 63 incidents, while KZN’s Umlazi was placed 5th with 52 incidents.
The quarterly crime statistics also revealed that carjacking incidents were decreasing across the country. Between January 2022 and March 2022, 5,402 incidents were recorded compared to 4,533 between January 2025 and March 2025.
The Reservoir Hills Community Police Subforum (RHCPS) said it was time for communities across the country to tighten their grip on security matters, become more organised and refuse to allow criminals to dictate how people live.
Lee Maharajh, RHCPS spokesperson, said they were deeply concerned by the recent hijacking incident in Battersea Avenue and the tragic loss of life associated with it.
“This incident once again highlights the very real threat posed by armed criminals and the urgent need for every member of our community to remain vigilant. Criminals rely on opportunity, anonymity and a lack of community awareness. We cannot afford to become complacent,” Maharajh said.
Following the incident, the RHCPS said an alert was circulated, and community safety partners immediately mobilised. The rapid response and co-operation between Inkosi Security, PT Alarms and Magma Security, together with the RHCPS team, ultimately led to the recovery of the hijacked vehicle in a graveyard in Clermont near Pinetown.
“However, recovery of a vehicle after a crime is not enough. We must work together to prevent these crimes from happening in the first place. We are calling on all able-bodied residents to become actively involved in their local street patrols. Community patrols, conducted responsibly and in co-operation with SAPS and recognised security structures, can play an important role in increasing visibility, identifying suspicious activity and ensuring that incidents are reported quickly,” Maharajh said.
He added that the security of communities cannot rest solely on the shoulders of the police or private security companies. Security is a shared responsibility.
The RHCPS also urged the SAPS to increase visible patrols and policing operations within Reservoir Hills and surrounding areas. Maharajh said increased visibility is essential as a deterrent to criminal activity. He urged the SAPS to act decisively where there are reasonable grounds to suspect criminal activity and to conduct lawful vehicle stops and searches.
“We are appealing to residents to remain vigilant and join organised street patrols and community safety initiatives to ensure these incidents are curbed to a certain extent. The RHCPS will continue deploying our team and working alongside our security partners to maintain peace, order and safety within our community,” Maharajh said.
