Solly’s hijacking presents a few lessons to us all

Before we discuss his hijacking in Midrand in the early hours of Saturday morning, we would like to wish Tshwane executive mayor Solly Msimanga all the best. We would suggest too, sir, that you get counselling from professionals. Too many South Africans have gone through the trauma of violent crime and bottled it up inside…which never ends well.

The fact that Msimanga was robbed of his Mercedes-Benz car at gunpoint shows that crime can happen to anyone, no matter their station in life.

We know, too, that this incident will only strengthen the resolve of Msimanga to continue his crackdown on crime in the capital city.

However, perhaps the most important result of the hijacking was the way Msimanga dealt with it – and the message he has been sending out to anyone else who finds themselves in a similar situation.

No possession is worth dying for – more so if such a possession is insured. Msimanga didn’t confront the robbers, didn’t stare at them (they did not bother to cover their faces) and he simply handed over the keys to the car.

Discretion, in such a situation, is the better part of valour and Msimanga did exactly what many security experts recommend.

For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.