Crime

Johannesburg Woman Uses Jiu-Jitsu to Fight Off Three Alleged Robbers, Takes One Suspect’s Phone

Lerato Mrali Published 6 hours ago

5 min read

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A Johannesburg woman has described how she fought off three men who allegedly attempted to rob her of her cellphone, using techniques she had learned through Jiu-Jitsu training to defend herself during the confrontation.

Sherri-Lynn Wallis shared details of the incident in a Facebook post on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, explaining how the attempted robbery unfolded and how she managed to walk away with one of the alleged attackers’ cellphones.

According to Wallis, her Jiu-Jitsu training played a significant role in how she reacted when confronted by the three men. She explained that her training and muscle memory kicked in during the encounter, allowing her to respond instinctively rather than having to think through each movement.

Wallis said the first man lost his cellphone during the struggle. She also suggested that he may have lost a tooth in the confrontation.

She described how she dealt with the second man, saying she struck him on the head and kicked him in the shin after he allegedly underestimated her.

The third man reportedly ran away without engaging her. Wallis also made a remark about his footwear, questioning why he had arrived wearing flip-flops during an attempted robbery.

Following the confrontation, Wallis said she had kept the cellphone belonging to the first alleged attacker. She indicated that she would leave it to the police to arrange for the device to be returned to its owner.

Her account attracted considerable attention on social media, with South Africans responding to the unusual circumstances of the attempted robbery. Several users praised her ability to defend herself, while others highlighted the role that self-defence training can play in preparing people to respond to dangerous situations.

Wallis specifically credited her Jiu-Jitsu training for helping her react under pressure, explaining that muscle memory allowed her to respond instinctively during the confrontation.

The exact location of the attempted robbery, whether the suspects have been identified and whether a formal police case has been opened have not been confirmed in the available reports.

OTHER NEWS

Pretoria Motorist Injured After Brick Is Hurled Through Car Window At Dark Lynnwood Road Intersection

A motorist was left injured after a brick was allegedly thrown through his vehicle’s window while he was driving along Lynnwood Road near the intersection of Equestria Road in Pretoria East.

The incident happened on October 26, as the motorist was travelling home after visiting a friend at Wilgers Hospital.

According to the motorist, he was approaching a set of traffic lights when a brick was suddenly thrown through his right-hand driver’s window. The brick shattered the glass before striking him on the right side of his face.

The impact left him bleeding and with facial cuts, significant swelling and a concussion.

Despite being injured and disorientated, the motorist managed to continue driving away from the scene. However, the effects of the impact reportedly left him confused, and he spent approximately 33 minutes trying to find his way home.

His vehicle’s GPS tracking eventually helped establish his location.

After arriving home, his wife rushed him to hospital, where medical personnel treated his facial injuries and assessed him for a concussion.

The motorist has since reported ongoing symptoms, including persistent headaches, fatigue, bruising, facial soreness and occasional twitching around his right eye.

He also described experiencing psychological distress following the incident, saying he wakes up in cold sweats and feels increasingly anxious when driving, particularly at night and when approaching traffic lights.

Dark intersection raises safety concerns

The motorist believes the poor lighting conditions along the stretch of Lynnwood Road contributed to the circumstances surrounding the attack.

He described the intersection near Equestria Road as particularly dark, claiming that the streetlights along the road were not working.

He also raised concerns about overgrown vegetation on the traffic islands, saying the surrounding bushes and trees could provide cover for criminals targeting motorists who slow down or stop at traffic lights.

The motorist said he did not see anyone or identify a specific vehicle before or after the brick was thrown.

No property was reported stolen from his vehicle during the incident.

Police investigation underway

The incident was reported at Garsfontein Police Station the following morning.

The case was subsequently transferred to Silverton Police Station for further investigation. The motorist said officers had contacted him to obtain information about the incident, but he had not received further feedback at the time of the report.

Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk confirmed that a case of common assault was being investigated.

The suspect remains unidentified.

Police indicated that the investigation concerns an incident in which an unknown person allegedly threw a brick through a motorist’s vehicle window, breaking the glass and injuring the driver.

Calls for improved security and street lighting

Following the attack, the motorist called on the City of Tshwane to urgently address the lighting conditions along Lynnwood Road and Equestria Road.

His concerns include repairing non-functional streetlights, clearing overgrown vegetation on traffic islands and increasing visible police and metro police patrols in the area, particularly at night.

He said the incident had significantly affected his confidence when travelling after sunset. Even approaching traffic lights where street vendors are present has reportedly become a source of anxiety.

He has also urged motorists to remain alert when approaching traffic lights, particularly in poorly lit areas.

His recommendations include maintaining enough distance from the vehicle ahead to avoid becoming boxed in and exercising additional caution around dark intersections and areas with dense vegetation.

The Tshwane metro was approached for comment about the reported streetlight problems and plans to address the concerns, but no response had been received by the time of publication.

The investigation into the brick attack remains ongoing, with the suspect still unknown.