Violent Weekend Crimes: Private Taxi Driver Survives Harrowing Hijacking

A private ride-sharing taxi driver from Montclair, Durban, was shot during an armed hijacking of his vehicle in the early hours of Saturday morning. The incident was one of several serious and violent crimes reported across this city at the weekend.
Montclair SAPS, a provincial ambulance and Blue Security reaction officers responded to the scene at around 6am.
“The incident occurred after the taxi driver had collected an unknown number of passengers in the city. An altercation ensued with the passengers while he was driving in the Montclair area and a shot was fired,” said Blue Security community and media liaison officer, Andreas Mathios.
“Luckily for the driver the bullet only grazed his head. The suspects then fled with the vehicle, leaving the injured driver at the scene,” he said. “The injured driver made his way to his home where the police and ambulance service were alerted and responded. The victim was transported to King Edward Hospital for further treatment,” he said.
In a separate incident in Umbilo a couple were victims of a violent, attempted home invasion on Saturday evening, leaving the man with a serious head injury.
“The couple had been baking in the kitchen when they noticed the top half of their kitchen door slowly opening,” Mathios said. “Although the resident tried to close the door he was outnumbered and overpowered by three suspects who entered the kitchen. In the process the victim sustained a serious head injury,” he said.
“The wife’s screaming not only alerted the neighbours who went outside to investigate but also caused the suspects to flee the property. They drove off in an awaiting vehicle. Nothing was stolen during the incident,” he said. “Further investigations revealed that the suspects had entered the property by forcing open the pedestrian gate lock as well as the security gate outside the kitchen door,” he said. “Members of Umbilo SAPS and paramedics attended the scene. The injured victim was transported to Enthabeni Hospital for further treatment,” he said.
In a third incident on Sunday armed suspects overpowered a security guard at a light industrial property in New Germany before large-truck batteries and other items were stolen.
“Blue Security armed response officers responded to a call just before 3pm on Sunday of a security guard who had been held up by two armed suspects,” Mathios said. “The suspects had entered the premises by digging a hole under the electric fence at the rear of the property. Threatening the guard with firearms they locked him in the workshop,” he said.
“The suspects then proceeded to remove batteries from three trucks parked on the premises. A microwave oven and two-plate stove were also taken,” he said. “No shots were fired during the armed robbery and the guard was not injured. Pinetown SAPS attended the scene and investigations are continuing,” he said.