A man was violently assaulted after he allegedly attempted to hijack a vehicle at the corner of Lilian Ngoyi and Sering Street in Kanonkop (Middelburg).

According to witnesses close to the scene (who want to stay anonymous), the incident occurred when a car had stopped behind a garbage truck at the stop street. The alleged hijacker reportedly approached the vehicle, frightening the driver so much that he accidentally drove into the back of the truck.

Within seconds, a group of men nearby apprehended the suspect and began assaulting him. Witnesses described the attack as severe, and said the crowd was growing increasingly aggressive.

“He would have been killed if the police hadn’t arrived,” said one bystander who watched the incident unfold.

The police intervened and managed to remove the suspect from the group.