A Cape Town woman has taken to social media to warn the public about the notorious R300 after she survived an attempted hijacking and assault by three minors.
Winnie Bonthuys took to Facebook and described how she was confronted by the three teenagers who hurled a brick at her windscreen and attempted to grab her car keys.
She said the aim of the post was to create awareness for female drivers like herself.
A quick-thinking Winnie managed to hit one of the attackers’ hands away.
She said God had spared her life after a faulty door button made it impossible for the hijackers to gain access to her vehicle along the R300 heading towards Mitchell’s Plain.
The brave woman also shared photographs of her injuries including her vehicle which showed shattered glass and the brick they hijackers used.
She also opened up a case with the police.
The Cape Argus also reached out to Bonthuys via her Facebook account but has yet to receive a response.
“This post is not for likes but for awareness,” she wrote.
“So on Wednesday, while my family was fighting for podiums on the track, I was fighting for my life on the R300, the last turn-off to Mitchell's Plain at 12 midday.
“I approached the backed-up trucks and traffic at a fast speed and had to brake quite suddenly, thus I was right on the tail of the last truck with no cars behind or next to me.
“From nowhere I was approached by 3 youngsters, probably 15-years-old or so. Next minute my window was smashed as two had bricks and one tried to pull out my car keys. I managed to slap his hand away. Amid all the screams and mayhem one tried to open my door, but my half broken button would not budge.
“My plan was always to fix that knob but that broken knob saved my life.
"All 3 kids were at my door proving that their plan was to steal my most faithful, not so little car.”
A distraught Winnie said no-one attempted to help her during her ordeal but that God was on her side and warned women to be safe: “As fast as they came they disappeared. What seemed like forever was probably about a minute or so,” she detailed.
“Not one person, not even the guys in the truck came to my rescue.
“The only one who protected me was Jesus Christ. If not for Him I'd be a goner today. So I give Him all the glory. Thus after my emotional outburst all the way to the police station and my family's safe place, I pulled up my baby panties and consciously CHOSE to be grateful that I'm alive. It could have turned out much worse.
“I am well, driving my car, and I refuse to be a victim, not allowing 3 idiots to keep me captive. I will definitely be more careful in future.
“So to all my lady drivers, please be careful on the roads. It's happening all over the place now.”
According to the Third Quarter police statistics for the period October 2024 to December 2024, 4807 car jackings were reported across South Africa.
Truck hijackings were 413.
Cape Argus