
The City Times received over 40 likes on Facebook and scores of Facebook and website comments, with many commending the female driver’s action and tenacious approach.
The suspected smash-and-grabber smashed the passenger window of a woman’s car, on Tuesday, August 20, at around 6pm.
The man and woman tussled over a handbag which was on the passenger seat.
The woman held onto her handbag and sped off, while the suspect clung to the handbag, resulting in him being pulled underneath the vehicle.
The man is being treated in ICU in the Tembisa Hospital, under police guard, and was charged in absentia, at the Benoni Magistrates Court, on August 21.
The case will be in court on August 30, with the man facing charges of malicious damage to property and attempted robbery.
‘‘We should start a petition to help pay her legal fees,’’ said Melanie van Wyk, on Facebook.
‘‘She is a flipping super hero!
‘‘She has shown us the way!’’
Helen Halsey shared her experience of a smash-and-grab at the same intersection five years ago.
‘‘It’s unbelievable that the public, mostly women, are having to endure this and the criminals are getting away with it.
‘‘Well done lady, I wish I had the presence of mind to run the bastard over,’’ she said.
The Snake Road intersections have been plagued by smash-and-grab attempts for several years.
Benoni CPF chairperson Reza Patel said women are mostly targeted, especially when valuables such as handbags and cellphones are in full view.
He said for several years there have been no reported cases of males falling victim to smash-and-grabs at the intersections.
According to Patel, there have been 40 smash-and-grab cases reported since the beginning of the year, with an approximate average of five or six incidents a month.
The Snake and Pretoria roads intersection is by far the worst affected area in Benoni for smash-and-grab crimes, he added.
Patel said police do not have the resources to deploy a vehicle at the intersection on a permanent basis.
Benoni SAPS media liaison officer Lieut Nomsa Sekele assured the public that police are trying to curb further incidents along Snake Road.
She said police have plans in place to root out smash-and-grab incidents in the area.
Road signs, warning people of the perilous intersection, will be erected soon.
On May 13, Ekurhuleni spokesperson Sam Modiba said Sanral’s N12 upgrade will improve visibility at the Snake Road intersection.
Comments on the article:
Some of the comments left by people on Facebook and looklocal:
Lydia Jankowitz:
Met ons patetiese regstelsel sal hierdie vrou nou aangekla word van poging tot moord en hy sal skotvry kom. Ek sal beslis hierdie saak dophou en hou ons op hoogte asseblief looklocal.
Zanele Mokatula:
Self defence – good on her!
Christa van Rooyen:
Give the lady a Bells. That is how it should be done.
Beverley Penny:
Ten out of 10 to the driver.
I have no sympathy for these pigs that think they can get away, but karma has a way of dealing with these pigs who try steal everything we have to work so hard for to get.
If I had the ways of doing this when I was hijacked I would of, but I was stopped in my driveway.
Tammy Bray:
Well done to the victim.
Sorry for the trauma she experienced, but well done.
It is time we started protecting ourselves – its all we have.
With his critical head injuries; maybe he can catch a wake up and realise this.
Bruce:
There has always been a problem at that intersection, maybe now something will be done about it.
Three cheers to the lady driver.