Watch: SA actors ‘arrested’ wh

Photo: twitter

Watch: SA actors ‘arrested’ while filming a hijacking scene in public

Only in South Africa, right? It’s been reported that an off-duty SAPS officer saw the staged hijacking scene and took decisive action.

Watch: SA actors ‘arrested’ wh

Photo: twitter

It’s the kind of jaw-dropping incident that, weirdly enough, makes you so proud to be South African. It’s understood that a film crew ended up in trouble with law enforcement this week when several actors were allegedly arrested by SAPS – after their staged hijacking scene played out in public.

‘Fake hijacking’ concerns cops

Using a stretch of road just off the main highway, two cars pull over onto the sidewalk. A group of men emerge from the vehicle in front and point what appears to be a hunting rifle at the window of the car. The women who have been targeted comply with the directives, but everything seems a little bit… calm and casual?

That’s because the initial footage shared online comes from the production crew. By no means is this a high-budget film, and you shouldn’t expect this clip to feature in our next big summer blockbuster. However, the action – as captured by those ‘on location’ – was enough to spark an off-duty SAPS officer into action.

Hijacking scene leads to arrests, warnings

(This video, showing the scene in question, does not feature sound)

A dangerous thing to do

Some of the details remain sketchy, and the actual arrest hasn’t been caught on camera. It’s been stated by the Crime Air Network that all of the suspects were given warnings and released shortly after their apprehension. Of course, there is a comical element to all of this confusion – but there’s also a very serious undercurrent to it all.

Given that hijackings are commonly brutal and violent, a police officer responding to the incident may not have taken too kindly to the sight of a fake hijacking – certainly not one where a ‘toy gun’ is being used. Their failure to secure permission to film at this location could have cost them their lives, rather than just their freedom.

It’s a shame they won’t get to make a second take of it, however. Let’s just say there are no Oscar winners in this scene…