Man ambushed and killed outside his Tshwane home
Condolences have poured in on social media for a man who was shot and killed by hijackers yesterday.
A man was shot and killed in a brutal hijacking outside his Eersterust, Tshwane, home early yesterday morning, intensifying community outrage over non-functional streetlights that residents say are fuelling a surge in violent crime.
Pretoria Rekord reports that Naylan Smith (29) was ambushed by three men, who were allegedly lying in wait as he opened his garage door to leave for work.
Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk says the attack happened at 05:20.
“The victim was reversing his vehicle from the garage, going to work. He started to close the garage door when he was approached by three African males speaking Afrikaans, one threatening him with a firearm.”
The men demanded Smith’s car keys, and a fight ensued while the deceased screamed to his neighbour to help.
Van Dyk says the neighbour came with pepper spray and started attacking the suspects.
“The neighbour was shot in the left foot and right hand, while the deceased was shot in the front upper body.”
The three attackers drove off in the deceased’s vehicle, a blue VW Polo GTI.
A family member, who came afterwards, took Smith and his neighbour to Wilgers Hospital, where Smith was declared dead on arrival.
Van Dyk says police on the scene found several empty cartridges and one live round.
A lookout was sent to neighbouring stations to assist. The vehicle was recovered abandoned at Mamelodi Gardens train station, with the engine running. No one was in the car.
“The vehicle was stripped of its front grill bumper, headlights and back bumper.”
Van Dyk says Boschkop SAPS pulled over a white Nissan 300 and, when searching the vehicle, recovered vehicle parts matching the description of Smith’s stripped, hijacked car.
“The suspect (36), of Mamelodi, was arrested for possession of a hijacked vehicle.”
Van Dyk says neighbouring station detectives are part of the investigation to trace the other suspects and determine possible links.
Police are investigating charges of murder, attempted murder and hijacking.
According to the Eersterust Nuusblad Facebook page, residents have previously raised concerns about broken streetlights in the area – an issue they believe directly contributes to increased criminal activity and puts lives at risk.
On Friday, frustrated residents voiced their anger when streetlights were repaired hours after Smith’s murder.
The Hoërskool FH Odendaal Info Page posted a message of condolence on their page:
“We [learnt] with deep sadness of the passing of one of our former Odies, Naylan Smith. FHO [expresses] its condolences to his family and friends. May the Lord hold you in this dark time.”
From the heartfelt condolences on social media, it’s clear that Smith was a beloved and well-known member of the Eersterust community. Some described him as a well-mannered, kind-hearted and humble soul – a tragic loss that deeply shook those who knew him.
He would have celebrated his 30th birthday on April 19.
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