The victim who survived a recent Kyalami attempted hijacking is back in intensive care following surgery.
Sector four crime forum chairperson Anton van Niekerk said the female victim has done incredibly well, is fully conscious and remembers the incident including the hours leading up to it. He said, “There are still a few surgeries required on her wrist but her chest surgery went well. They were able to mend the artery and it seems to be healing well.”
“She’s back in ICU after the wrist surgery but is recovering well all things considered. She has a long road of recovery ahead of her.
“A special thanks to the residents that assisted medically on the scene, this help made all the difference. A great thank you to the medical personnel who worked as an incredible team to make this possible.”
The incident occurred on the corner of Maple and Main roads when the female victim was stopped on 7 January. Provincial spokesperson for the police Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said, “Two men allegedly stormed the couple’s vehicle and attempted to get inside the Nissan X-Trail, which then allegedly rolled back downhill and landed in a ditch.”
Peters added that shots were allegedly fired from the suspects’ vehicle and the female driver was wounded in the upper body and her husband killed.
Van Niekerk said, “The event on Tuesday the 7th of January was perhaps one of the worst incidents of crime we have experienced in our localised area in many years. It has understandably had a very bad impact upon the residents in the area, leaving many traumatised, even though they did not witness the event in any of the stages.
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It was an incident that was disturbing in its intensity, callousness and the completely senseless use of excessive violence. The couple were elderly and could have been easily overpowered, yet lethal force was used.”
He concluded by urging motorist to not fight back against an armed assailant. “Please cooperate. Your life is worth more than the items they take from you. Yes, some people have had successes in fighting off assailants, but these are the few.
As soon as you see an incident, or have experienced an incident, then please put out the alerts. Seconds count and the faster safety and security assets can react the better. If it is a car, please try and identify the colour, make and model and if there are any identifying features like colour mags, colour bumpers, dents, stickers etc.”
