A Durban man succumbed to his injuries after being shot during a hijacking in Reservoir Hills on Wednesday night, highlighting ongoing concerns over violent crime in the area. According to a source, the victim drove into his property and was followed into his garage by another vehicle before neighbours heard a single gunshot.
When neighbours investigated the disturbance, they found the injured man inside his garage after his car had been taken. His family rushed him to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The incident occurred on Battersea Avenue, according to the Reservoir Hills Community Police Subforum (RHCPS).
National and Regional Carjacking Statistics
Official data released by the South African Police Service (SAPS) for the fourth quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year illustrates the broader scope of vehicle thefts across the country. Between January 2026 and March 2026, authorities recorded 3,609 carjacking incidents nationwide. Gauteng accounted for 2,062 of those reports, while KwaZulu-Natal recorded 446 incidents during the same three-month window.
Among the top 30 police stations tracking carjackings in the country, Johannesburg’s Alexandra area recorded the highest total with 63 incidents. Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal’s Umlazi station ranked fifth nationally with 52 reported carjackings. Despite these figures, quarterly comparisons indicate a broader downward trend in national carjacking numbers over recent years. Between January and March 2022, authorities logged 5,402 incidents, compared to 4,533 during the same period in 2025.
Did You Know? Official SAPS crime statistics show that national carjacking incidents dropped from 5,402 in the first quarter of 2022 down to 4,533 in the corresponding quarter of 2025, reflecting a broader downward trajectory across the country prior to the 2026 reporting period.
Community Safety Responses and Security Coordination
Lee Maharajh, spokesperson for the RHCPS, voiced deep concern over the Battersea Avenue shooting and the resulting loss of life. He stated that the attack underscores the constant threat posed by armed criminals who exploit opportunity, anonymity, and a lack of local awareness. Following the attack, an alert went out that mobilized community safety partners immediately.
Coordinated efforts between Inkosi Security, PT Alarms, Magma Security, and the RHCPS team enabled authorities to recover the stolen vehicle in a graveyard located in Clermont, near Pinetown. Maharajh stressed that recovering a vehicle after the fact does not replace the need for prevention. He urged able-bodied residents to participate in local street patrols conducted alongside SAPS and recognized security structures to boost visibility and report suspicious activity quickly.
Calls for Increased Police Visibility and Vigilance
The RHCPS maintains that safety is a shared responsibility that cannot rest entirely on the shoulders of law enforcement or private security companies. Alongside calls for grassroots organization, the subforum urged SAPS to step up visible patrols and policing operations throughout Reservoir Hills and surrounding neighbourhoods. Maharajh noted that heightened police visibility acts as a key deterrent and called on officers to conduct lawful vehicle stops and searches when they observe reasonable grounds for suspicion.
Organisers intend to keep deploying their teams alongside security partners to preserve order while encouraging residents to remain alert.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened during the incident in Reservoir Hills?
According to a source, a man drove into his garage on Wednesday night and was followed by another vehicle. Neighbours heard a gunshot, discovered the injured man after his car was stolen, and his family rushed him to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Where was the hijacked vehicle recovered?
The vehicle was recovered in a graveyard in Clermont near Pinetown following a coordinated response by Inkosi Security, PT Alarms, Magma Security, and the RHCPS team.
What are community leaders asking residents to do?
The RHCPS is urging able-bodied residents to join organised street patrols and community safety initiatives, remain vigilant, and work alongside the SAPS and security structures to prevent future crimes.
How is your local neighbourhood organizing to address security concerns following incidents like this one?
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