By Nokunceda Magagaula
Multi-award-winning gospel music legend Sipho Makhabane is the latest high-profile victim of the crime rate in South Africa after being hijacked at gunpoint in Johannesburg.
In an interview with an online publication, Makhabane recounted the incident that occurred on February 19 on Booysen Street.
Makhabane stated, “I was driving my bakkie when a white car passed and flashed a blue light in front of me,” he said.
He added that it looked like a police vehicle and there were three people inside it in civilian clothes. The gospel artist said they stopped him, and he respected them, he then jumped out of the car and approached them.
“As I was busy talking to them, a second car with two men inside came and jammed my bakkie. They jumped out of their car and shoved me inside the first car,” he stated.
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Makhabane further revealed that his wallet, bank cards, passport, and ID card were taken during the incident. He also mentioned hearing multiple cellphone notifications, indicating that his money was being taken, but he was unable to intervene.
After three hours, he was abandoned in a forest at Natalspruit and managed to make his way to the main road, where he received assistance from someone who recognized him.
Makhabane is currently receiving medical attention.
Makhabane warned South Africans, urging them to be cautious on the road due to the high crime rate. He mentioned, “These thugs are pretending to be police. After this incident, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop for a police vehicle.”
Makhabane was born and raised in Eswatini before relocating to South Africa over the years.
According to BusinessTech, in 2023 the SAPS reported that the Gauteng province saw a 12.4 per cent decrease in carjackings, followed by Mpumalanga with 12.2 per cent, Kwa-Zulu Natal at 1.9 per cent whilst the Western Cape saw an increase of 7.4 per cent.
Despite the positive stats for Gauteng, carjackings were most prevalent in South Africa’s most populous regions, such as Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, and the Western Cape.
Gauteng saw 2,573 hijackings, representing 50.3 per cent of all carjackings in the fourth quarter of 2022/23. Kwa-Zulu Natal experienced 859 carjackings, and the Western Cape saw 624.
The SAPS reported that the Western Cape had the most hijackings per region, with Nyanga having the most cases in the province and seeing an increase of 93.3 per cent over the year.
In Gauteng, Jeppe had the highest reported cases, though Vosloorus saw a considerable increase, with the number of cases more than doubling.
