Mpho Nefuri’s (44) courage in chasing after hijackers in The Orchards, north of Pretoria, has tugged on the heartstrings of social media users.

Nefuri chased after four men who hijacked a white Volkswagen Polo, risking her safety in pursuit, and has been hailed a hero.

During an exclusive interview with Rekord, Nefuri, an attorney, said she was on her way to work at 10:00 on September 13 when she witnessed three men getting into the backseat of the Polo. She thought nothing of it at first, but a taxi driver then told her that the men were hijacking the car.

She pursued the car without hesitation, attempting to intercept it.

“I was surprised to see only one person in the front, which was the driver, then four people in the backseat,” Nefuri said.

She tried to block the path of the car, but the hijackers noticed she was chasing after them, and turned off the road.

Nefuri said a man in the back then got out and charged towards her on foot, while firing shots at her.

“I did not back down as I only wanted to save the poor guy who was hijacked,” she said.

Orchards, north of Pretoria: This lady chased hijackers. They abandoned the hijacked car with the victim inside. The hijackers shot at her and she did not back down. pic.twitter.com/tP9xLQHtgi

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) September 17, 2023

It was a narrow escape for the brave woman, as one of the bullets hit her windscreen and cracked the glass.

Asked if she was scared, she said she was focused only on saving the victim’s life, regardless of the danger. Her goal was to ensure the victim’s safety and she was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen.

Nefuri said the hijackers stopped at a traffic circle on Longmore Road, known as ‘the hiding place’, then fled on foot, leaving the victim and car behind.

The driver, shaken by the ordeal, got out of the backseat of his car and thanked Nefuri for saving him from the hijackers.

He told her that the hijackers had stolen his phone and wallet and that without her intervention, the situation could have been much worse.

Social media users praised her quick thinking and determination and sent messages of love and support to the victim.

Nefuri said no one was injured and a case was lodged at the Akasia police station.

Rekord had not received comment from the police at the time of publication.