A 27-year-old Tongaat resident was allegedly hijacked at gunpoint after drawing rent money at Ballito Lifestyle Centre last Wednesday, July 1.

The man, who asked not to be identified following the shock of the ordeal, works in Ballito and went to a Capitec ATM at the centre after work between 5 and 5.30pm.

He drew R8 000 before returning to his car. Just after he sat down in the driver’s seat with the car still unlocked, the victim said an armed man got into the back seat and pressed a gun to his head.

“He told me not to move or say anything. A second man got into the passenger seat soon after,” said the man.

“They took my jacket off and the man in the back seat sat behind me, holding it around my neck. I was told to drive and steer, while the man in the passenger seat changed gears.”

They travelled south on the M4 before pulling over at the Tongaat River bridge. A parked car spooked the hijackers and they took off again, turning first onto Watson Highway and later onto the airport link road, where they stopped.

“One of them pulled me out of the car by my neck and threw me on the ground, while the other kicked me. They tore through the car trying to find anything of value and forced me to unlock my banking app on my phone,” he said.

“I heard another car coming and they told me to look away. They took the cash, got into the Polo and left me next to my car.”

The man’s tablet under the passenger seat had not been discovered by the hijackers. He used it to call for help and to freeze his accounts, preventing any further money from being stolen. His broken phone and car keys were discovered in the passenger side door the next morning.

“I felt paralysed after it happened. I haven’t been out in public since. This is just not something you think will happen in Ballito.”

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that a case of robbery and hijacking was opened at Tongaat Saps.

Lifestyle Centre marketing manager Tessa Woodley said the alleged incident was being investigated by security company Excellerate. “We will be able to comment further once the investigation is completed,” she said.