Hijacking victim’s body discovered in a ditch in KwaZulu-Natal

The body of a hijacking victim was found in a ditch on Jabu Ngcobo Road close to Tea Estate, KwaZulu-Natal on 23 November 2022, a post by Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) said.

Shoelace found wrapped around hijacking victim’s neck

The Verulam police contacted RUSA at around 12:44 to request a declaration of death.

Upon the medics’ arrival, they found the body of a man lying in a ditch next to the road.

When they investigated the body, they found a shoelace wrapped around the man’s neck.

The victim is presumed to have been strangled.

It was said that he also sustained a penetrating wound to his right arm.

ALSO READ: SA has NEW hijacking hot-spot – and a 305% increase in this area

Significant rise in hijackings

Stats SA reported that around 137 000 hijackings occurred in 2021-2022, as crime increased over the period.

This affected 134 000 persons over the age of 16.

Around 63% of these victims reported some or all crimes to the police.

Police give safety tips during a hijacking

The South African Police Service released the following safety tips aimed at giving a potential hostage or hijacking victim practical advice.

Do’s

• Do everything the perpetrators tell you to do
• Try at all times to maintain your pride, dignity and self-respect
• Keep your brain active by playing games in your mind(mind games), daydreaming and reading whatever you are offered
• To maintain your physical strength you should eat the food provided by your captor(s)
• Try to maintain a sense of humour, but do not ridicule the aggressors
• Try to remain orientated regarding your movements, directions, time and place
• Try to maintain a routine and remain fit, if circumstances permit
• Allow yourself to be led by your captor(s)
• Try to remain cool and calm
• Fall flat and remain down during the relieving attack

Dont’s

• At any time become panic stricken or hysterical
• Offer any form of resistance
• Become abusive and aggressive or lose your temper
• Threaten or provoke the captor(s)
• Try to be a hero
• Engage in an argument with the captor(s)
• Engage in any whispered conversations with the perpetrators
• Use foreign concepts of language, as this could arouse the captor’s suspicions
• Make any demands
• Try to escape, as this could place you at risk

ALSO READ: Motorist stabbed multiple times in attempted hijacking