Gauteng Constable Thwarts Hijacking at Acting Police Commissioner’s Home, SA Thinks He Was Targeted
- Police are searching for criminals who attempted to hijack a state vehicle in Westonaria on 14 July 2025
- The men fled after a constable in the vehicle, which was on the premises of the acting Gauteng Police Commissioner's home, opened fire
- South Africans speculated on what the motive was behind the botched hijacking outside Major General Fred Kekana's house
Source: Getty Images
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
GAUTENG – Speculating is mounting online following a botched hijacking outside the home of the Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner.
Major General Fred Kekana was at his home in Westonaria on 14 July 2025, when an unspecified number of suspects attempted to hijack a constable in a state vehicle who was outside his house.
The constable was there to pick up the province’s acting police commissioner when he was targeted by the men.
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Suspects attempted to break the vehicle’s window
According to police, the constable was in a white State BMW outside Kekana’s residence when one of the suspects attempted to break the driver’s side window. The constable acted swiftly and the men fled when he fired shots at them.
Police are now looking for a blue BMW that the men were travelling in. Forensic teams also dusted the scene for fingerprints and combed it to find any evidence that could assist the investigation.
Kekana confirms incident outside court
Speaking outside the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court where Tiffany Meek was appearing in connection with the murder of her son Jayden-Lee, Kekana was asked about the incident.
He confirmed that it did happen, explaining that the constable noticed that a BMW was following his vehicle. When he stopped, one of the men ran up to the window and attempted to smash it, not realising that it was shatterproof. Kekana confirmed that the constable then pulled out his gun and the men fled the scene.
Source: Facebook
How did South Africans react?
Social media users were left debating the news, as many speculated that it was a targeted hit following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to establish a Commission of Inquiry. Ramaphosa set up the commission following allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Gcule Lusapho suggested:
“They must beef up security for all the commissioners and their deputies, regional and provincial, because the way I see it, people are going to be smoked out before that commission starts.”
Ndibue Benjamin Makuya stated:
“It was obviously a hit.”
Ntokozo Waya claimed:
“Mchunu and Ramaphosa are behind it.”
Ryan Hardwich stated:
“And so starts the silencing of witnesses and suspects.”
Ray Brauns added:
“Something fishy. Someone is trying to shut him up.”
Thabang Wesi said:
“Surely the Major General was about to spill the beans. He's a man of integrity. I know him personally and his dedication to the oath he took to fight criminals.”
Jan Vw suggested:
“That man knows too much. It was definitely a hit.”
Hijacking hotspots in South Africa
The SAPS crime statistics show a significant increase in vehicle-related crime in Gauteng and the Western Cape. Hijackings increased by 14% in Gauteng and 11% in the Western Cape.
KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape recorded decreases in hijackings, with KZN dropping by 17.6% and the Eastern Cape by 5.2%. KZN still contains two of the most dangerous areas for car theft in the country
Gauteng’s high-risk areas include Eldorado Park, Ivory Park, Loate, Moroka, and Orange Farm. In KZN, Mariannhill and Umlazi are considered major hotspots. The Western Cape’s danger zones are Delft, Harare, Mfuleni, Nyanga, and Philippi East.
Most hijackings occur near the victim’s home, with 71% happening while a person is entering or exiting their driveway. Criminals often strike when drivers are most vulnerable and have limited room to escape.
Officers assist blue-light hijackers
Briefly News reported that the South African Police Service arrested four suspects, including two police officers, in Ekurhuleni.
The officers and suspects were allegedly involved in a spree of blue-light hijackings in the area.
CCTV footage showed police officers assisting the suspects hijack a security company's vehicle.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
