Shots Fired as Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner Survives Hijacking Attempt

Hijacking bid at Westonaria home raises fresh questions about police safety and organised crime in South Africa

South Africa’s crime epidemic hit dangerously close to the top of the police hierarchy on Monday when Acting Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana narrowly escaped a hijacking attempt outside his Westonaria home, west of Johannesburg.

According to early reports, Kekana’s driver opened fire on the would-be hijackers, forcing them to flee the scene. In their haste, the suspects left behind a firearm, a possible clue for investigators now scrambling to make arrests. No injuries have been reported.

The incident is already raising alarm bells, especially given its timing.

An attack with troubling timing

The failed hijacking came less than 24 hours after President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave following explosive allegations linking him to organised crime and cartel activity in Gauteng. That investigation, and the appointment of a commission of inquiry, has placed police leadership under intense national scrutiny.

While authorities have not linked the hijacking to any broader criminal conspiracy, the optics are unsettling: a senior police official targeted at his private home, while the ministry is reeling from allegations of deep-rooted corruption and interference.

Was this simply an opportunistic hijacking in a crime-ridden province, or something more calculated? That’s the question many are now asking.

Details still emerging

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the incident to The Citizen and said further information would be released in due course. For now, investigators are combing through the crime scene and working to trace the origin of the weapon left behind.

It’s unclear whether Major General Kekana was the intended target or if the attackers were unaware of the high-profile nature of their would-be victim. Either way, the attempted hijacking exposes the continued vulnerability of even South Africa’s most senior law enforcement figures.

A symbol of deeper chaos in Gauteng?

Gauteng remains one of South Africa’s hijacking hotspots, with thousands of incidents reported each year. But attacks targeting senior police officials are rare and symbolic.

Kekana’s position as the acting head of police in the province makes him a key player in the fight against hijackings, violent crime, and now possibly internal corruption. That a high-ranking general can be attacked so close to home underlines just how brazen criminal networks have become and how unsafe many parts of Gauteng remain.

A nation on edge

On social media, South Africans were quick to react, with many calling the incident “deeply troubling,” while others questioned whether senior police officials are being silenced or intimidated. The speculation comes in the wake of mounting allegations against law enforcement and political figures alike.

Whether this was a random crime or a warning shot from organised syndicates, the message is clear: South Africa’s crime crisis is no longer just about statistics, it’s now knocking on the doors of the country’s top brass.

This story is still developing.

Ramaphosa Suspends Mchunu, Launches Inquiry into Policing Crisis

{Source: The Citizen}

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