WATCH: Shootout between hijackers and law enforcement caught on Dashcam

A high-speed police chase involving a suspected hijacked truck unfolded on highways and urban streets in Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, on September 5, 2025. The incident, captured on dashcam footage from a pursuing police vehicle, highlighted the ongoing challenges with vehicle hijackings in the Eastern Cape province.

The pursuit began on a multi-lane highway under clear skies, with several South African Police Service (SAPS) vehicles, including marked patrol cars, following a white cargo truck. The truck, believed to have been hijacked, traveled at high speeds while evading officers. As the chase progressed into more built-up areas with industrial buildings and residential zones visible, additional emergency vehicles joined the operation.

The sequence culminated in a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI), a pursuit termination technique also known as a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver. A white SAPS van positioned itself alongside the truck and made contact with its side, forcing the vehicle to spin and come to a halt on the roadside. Officers from multiple vehicles exited with firearms drawn and approached the stopped truck. Two suspects emerged from the cab with their hands raised, surrendering without immediate resistance. No visible injuries to officers or suspects were apparent in the footage, though an ambulance arrived at the scene shortly after.

One suspect was placed into custody inside a police vehicle, as shown in later frames. A small crowd of onlookers gathered nearby, observing the operation. The post sharing the video described the event as a "shootout between vehicle hijackers and police," indicating that gunfire may have been exchanged during the confrontation, though this is not depicted in the visual frames.

This incident occurs amid a notable rise in vehicle hijackings in the Eastern Cape. Data from recent reports show a significant increase in such crimes in the province, with the Eastern and Western Cape experiencing a surge that outpaces previous years, though Gauteng remains the national leader in reported cases. Nationally, hijackings continue to be a pressing issue, with trends persisting into 2025.

Contributing factors include high unemployment rates in the region. The Eastern Cape has an official unemployment rate of 40.1 percent and an expanded rate of 54.7 percent, meaning more than half of the working-age population is without employment. Nationally, the expanded unemployment rate stood at 42.9 percent in the second quarter of 2025. Reports from organizations like the South African Institute of Race Relations have linked economic pressures, including unemployment, to elevated crime levels across the country.

Vehicular pursuits like this one carry inherent risks. Studies on police chase tactics, including TVI maneuvers, indicate that such interventions can lead to crashes and injuries in a substantial portion of cases, with data from 2015 to 2020 showing at least 30 percent of pursuits resulting in accidents. Guidance for law enforcement executives emphasizes managing these risks through policy and training.

Authorities have not released further details on the suspects' identities, charges, or the condition of any involved parties as of September 8, 2025. The recovery of the truck and arrests mark a successful resolution to the pursuit, underscoring SAPS efforts to combat vehicle-related crimes in the area.