Dashcam shows Durban bakkie owner shoot at alleged hijackers; three reportedly killed

What the dashcam captures

According to IOL, the clip begins with the bakkie driver and his daughter exiting their driveway while a boy believed to be his son stands at the gate. A vehicle, said to be used by the alleged hijackers, passes and stops a short distance away. A man leaves that vehicle and runs toward the bakkie.

According to IOL, a source told reporters the man ran to the boy at the gate and put a gun to his head, while a second alleged hijacker exited the vehicle, drew a firearm and fired at the bakkie driver. The source also told IOL that a third alleged hijacker was later found at a clinic.

According to IOL, the bakkie owner drew his firearm and fired back through his window. In the video, the vehicle rolls forward and stops against a tree; the windscreen is visibly cracked. The bakkie driver’s son moves to the side of the vehicle, removes his sister from the passenger seat, and the driver continues to fire out of the window.

Allegations, casualties and police status

According to IOL, it is alleged that three men were killed in the incident, but this has not been confirmed by police. IOL reported that police were still confirming with Pinetown SAPS whether a case had been registered.

Security reaction and commentary

Andreas Mathios, spokesperson for private security company Marshall Security, provided a strongly worded reaction to the footage and the incident. According to IOL, Mathios framed the event as an example of when self-defence and a justifiable shooting intersect in South Africa, adding a concern about how criminals obtain firearms.

“This man is a hero. He firstly and instinctively made sure his family was safe. He was consistently alert, and even though there was some sort of delay in returning fire when he was fired upon, at the right time he managed to return fire and neutralised the threat,” Mathios said.

“He protected his family, and he did everything by the book. I commend him for his actions. Also, people must take into consideration the time it takes for a hijacker to get off the vehicle. We try to consistently educate the community to be alert,” Mathios added.

According to IOL, Mathios also warned about the broader problem of firearms circulation, describing the environment as one “riddled with corruption, especially where firearms go missing.”

Advice for people confronted with violent crime

According to IOL, Mathios offered specific advice for untrained members of the public who face an armed confrontation:

“If you are accosted by a hijacker and you are not trained in using a firearm, do not make eye contact, submit, hand over the vehicle, and walk away from the scene as quickly as possible with hands in the air. Show the suspect you mean no harm and walk away,” Mathios advised.

Outside of this incident-specific guidance, safety experts generally advise that people who are not trained in armed response prioritise their and their family’s immediate safety and defer to law enforcement. In cases where a weapon has been used, investigators typically secure the scene, collect forensic evidence and interview witnesses and parties involved; however, those are general procedures and not specific findings tied to this incident.

Why the footage matters

Footage such as this can play several roles in the aftermath of a violent encounter: it documents the sequence of events, provides evidence for investigations, and can shape public debate about self-defence and firearm accessibility. In this case, the clip has reached a wide audience online and prompted discussion about both personal security and how criminals obtain weapons.

What remains unclear

Key details remain unconfirmed. According to IOL, police were still verifying whether a case had been registered with Pinetown SAPS, and official confirmation of fatalities had not been provided at the time of reporting. The identity of the people involved, the status of any arrests, and any formal police findings were not included in the available footage or reporting by IOL.

Next steps and what to watch for

Given the uncertainties that remain, authoritative updates will need to come from police statements or court records. When law enforcement releases verified details, they will clarify whether charges have been laid, how many victims were confirmed dead or injured, and the sequence of events as established through witness statements and forensic analysis.

For now, the dashcam video stands as a stark record of a violent encounter in Pinetown that has reignited conversation about personal security measures, the legal boundaries of self-defence and the circulation of firearms. According to IOL, the clip has gone viral on social media and the community is watching for official confirmation from police.