35-Year-Old Man Arrested After Father Shoots Dead Alleged Hijacker in Pinetown
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A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an attempted hijacking in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, during which a father opened fire on alleged attackers, fatally wounding one of them while his two children were with him.
The arrest was made in KwaDabeka on Sunday, 25 October 2026, following an investigation by Pinetown detectives into the incident, which occurred on Friday, 9 October, on Lea Place in Pinetown.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the father and his two children were reversing out of their driveway when suspects allegedly got out of a vehicle behind them.
One of the suspects allegedly began firing shots at the father, who returned fire and fatally wounded one of the alleged attackers.
The incident has attracted widespread attention after dashcam footage showing the confrontation circulated on social media.
Dashcam Footage Shows Confrontation
The footage shows the family’s bakkie leaving the property before the confrontation with the occupants of another vehicle.
The recording appears to show armed suspects approaching the family’s vehicle before shots are fired. The father returns fire while his daughter is seated in the front passenger seat.
The footage also shows the bakkie moving forward before coming to a stop after colliding with a tree. The children are subsequently seen moving away from the vehicle following the shooting.
The incident took place while the father was leaving his property with his children, turning an ordinary trip into a violent confrontation.
Reports indicate that the father sustained three gunshot wounds to his knee during the incident. His children were not reported to have sustained physical injuries, although the incident was described as traumatic for the family.
One of the alleged attackers was fatally wounded during the exchange of gunfire.
Suspect Arrested in KwaDabeka
Pinetown detectives continued investigating the attempted hijacking and followed up on information that led them to KwaDabeka, where they arrested the 35-year-old suspect on Sunday, 25 October.
Police said the suspect was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and 14 rounds of ammunition at the time of his arrest.
The arrest followed more than two weeks of investigation into the shooting and attempted hijacking.
The suspect has been charged with attempted carjacking, three counts of attempted murder, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The three attempted murder charges form part of the police investigation into the incident involving the father and his two children.
Suspect Expected in Court
The 35-year-old suspect is expected to appear before the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
The charges against him relate to the alleged attempted hijacking and the reported possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The suspect’s arrest marks a development in the investigation into the incident captured in the widely circulated dashcam footage.
The case remains subject to the legal process, and the allegations against the accused will have to be dealt with in court.
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