2017 Year in Review: Woman hijacked in Westville North speaks

2017 Year in Review: Woman hijacked in Westville North speaks

Reading through South Africa's annual crime stats is often a shocking experience. We all hear of hijackings, robberies and cash-in-transit heists on a regular basis

Westville hijacking
Sadly, these are often daily occurrences in South Africa.

However, there was one particular incident in Westville North this year that hit home with many East Coasters.

Newswatch's 51st most read article online in 2017 involved a Newcastle family that was hijacked outside a complex in Pitlochry Road in Westville North.

A woman, her daughter and sister-in-law had travelled to Westville North to visit family on the 6th of March when two men approached them on foot as they stopped next to the intercom at the complex's main gate.

ALSO READ: INFOGRAPHIC: KZN crime stats 2016/17

Surekha Maraj says one of the hijackers reached into her car through the open window to pull the keys out of the ignition.

Listen to Maraj describe what happened below:

Maraj says the hijackers and a private security guard who had been in the area then exchanged gunfire while the suspects fled in the vehicle.


Westville hijacking - bullets seen on scene
Natarah Nadesen
Westville hijacking victim recalls traumatic ordeal
Natarah Nadesen
This particular story had received in excess of 19,300 views by the end of November 2017.

For yesterday's feature on the first snowfall in KZN caught on camera this year, click here.

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