WATCH: Pinetown dad recalls shielding his children with his body during shootout with hijackers

Ask AI 3minSidney Hill, defended his two young children during an attempted hijacking outside his home in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, on 9 October. The confrontation escalated into a shootout, leaving one alleged attacker dead and a second suspect subsequently arrested. The incident gained widespread attention after footage of the attempted hijacking circulated on social media. His bakkie struck this tree during the shooting incident.

“When the car passed me, I looked into the driver’s eyes. I knew something was wrong. The doors were flung open, and they ran towards us. The shootout occurred, and I was lucky to survive.”

These were the words of Pinetown father Sidney Hill, who was captured on his dashcam footage, in a shootout with alleged hijackers earlier this week.

IOL reported that consistent firearm training and an instinct to protect his children kicked in when Hill, 52, was confronted by the alleged hijackers outside his home.

Hill was leaving his home in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal with his children when two hijackers attempted to take his bakkie. Hill said they were heading to the local grocery store. 

Video footage of the incident shows a car stopping alongside Hill’s bakkie. Two men got out and ran towards him. Hill was inside the bakkie with his daughter seated beside him, while his son was standing at the front gate. 

One of the men ran to Hill’s son, who was at the gate, and put a gun to his head. Another ran towards Hill and fired a shot. Hill, whose bakkie was facing a tree, turned his body, drew his firearm and returned fire. He said he used his body to shield his daughter.

“One of the suspects allegedly started firing shots towards the father, who returned fire and fatally wounded one suspect,” said a KZN police spokesperson, Colonel Paul Magwaza.

The next day, police made a breakthrough in the investigation by arresting a 35-year-old in KwaDabeka.

He faces charges of attempted carjacking, attempted murder, as well as possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Police said the suspect was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and 14 rounds of ammunition. 

Hill, who manages a private security company, said his bakkie was peppered with bullets from the second suspect, who was behind him. Hill said he took his foot off the accelerator in the process, which resulted in the bakkie rolling into the tree. 

“When the car passed me, I looked into the driver’s eyes. I knew something was wrong. The doors were flung open, and they ran towards us. The shootout occurred, and I was lucky to survive. I saw them run off; the car had left them. One of the hijackers died near the scene,” he said. 

Hill sustained minor injuries from bullet fragments to his knee and arms. 

“Both my children have been severely traumatised and won’t leave the house. I only stayed here for four days before the incident happened. Now I am looking to relocate because of the circumstances,” he said. 

Hill said security and protection services were in his blood for 25 years. He was also a member of the South African National Defence Force on border patrol. 

‘My children know I am in security but for them to witness what I actually do and be in this situation was a concern to me. For them to see the dead hijacker was trauma. I did not want them to see my aggressive side,” he said. 

Bullet holes on Sidney Hill's bakkie outside his home in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal.

While Hill was concerned at first over the leaked footage on social media, he said people are accustomed to crime in South Africa. He had received mixed reactions from the public. He said only a few people had access to the video. 

“Gun enthusiasts might have seen the gun jam or stove pipe. It happened because the bakkie had hit the tree and my hand went off the grip. The case did not eject when I fired a round so I racked it. It is all down to muscle memory. I practice at the shooting range consistently,” Hill said.