Three staff members from humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers endured a harrowing 40-minute hijacking ordeal in Khayelitsha, when armed men forced them into a vehicle and stole the organisation’s branded van on Friday evening.
The team, comprising a male driver and two female colleagues, were safely recovered after the vehicle’s tracker was activated, but remain deeply traumatised, confirmed project coordinator Ali Sablay.
Sablay said the community’s response was immediate and overwhelming.
“From the minute the news went out, because there were witnesses to the scene watching our staff being bundled into this blue Toyota Yaris and the hijackers moving off with our vehicle, the word started spreading in the Khayelitsha community. Within no time, counsellors, CPFs, and community leaders were calling us in search of our staff members, visibly concerned about what had happened,” he said.
He added that the community’s anger and support were evident at the local police station.
“Even the police said there was a large delegation, and our team confirmed this when they were taken to the station. People were venting their anger at the criminals, saying they would not allow this to happen to those doing social upliftment and disaster relief. Our staff felt comforted by the sheer number of people coming to their aid.”
Sablay expressed gratitude to the Western Cape Police, Tracker Connect, and the community of Khayelitsha for their swift action, which ensured the safe recovery of the team.
Despite the traumatic incident, Gift of the Givers reaffirmed its commitment to serving communities in need, even in the face of such risks.
Listen to the full interview below:
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Photo: Facebook/ Gift of the Givers
