A police officer was shot and killed in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Belhar, Cape Town, during a hijacking.
According to the Belhar Community Police Forum, 28-year-old Constable Tervia Smith lost his life at around 1:00 a.m. on November 11 during a hijacking at South Point, behind Erica Spar in Belhar. Smith was attached to the Belhar Crime Prevention Unit and was off duty when the shooting took place. A Western Cape police media liaison officer, Constable Ndakhe Gwala, confirmed the details, saying the constable was shot at the corner of Graduate Street and Degree Close. The case docket has been transferred to the Hawks for investigation.
Fight Against Crime South Africa shared a tribute to Smith, describing his death as a tragic loss. No further details about the circumstances of the shooting or any suspects have been released, and the investigation is ongoing.
Hijackings are one of the most feared crimes in South Africa, and they are also one of the most preventable in terms of how ordinary people can reduce their risk. The pattern is well known: attackers often strike at quiet intersections, driveways, and parking areas in the early hours, when streets are empty and help is far away. Awareness at those moments — keeping distance from the car ahead at a stop, scanning before pulling into a driveway, keeping doors locked and windows up — is the difference between a bad night and a tragedy.
The DAOS take: this is the public-safety lesson every one of us needs to carry. If someone demands your car, give them the car. A vehicle can be replaced. A life cannot. Do not argue, do not resist, do not chase — get clear, get safe, and call for help. And before it ever gets to that point, stay aware: know your streets, know your exits, and never let routine make you careless. Constable Smith spent his working life protecting his community. The best way to honor that is to take the lesson seriously — stay alert, stay calm, and get home safe.
Sources: Crime Scene Report
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