Actor and presenter Tumisho Masha opened up about his 2016 hijacking in Soshanguve, saying the incident occurred during a difficult period in his life and revealed the harsh realities of crime in South Africa's townships.
Masha, best known for his roles in Isidingo and Top Billing, detailed the events of that night, which began when he borrowed his mother’s old Jetta to pick someone up in the township.
While waiting in the car, he was approached by a group of men who forced him out of the vehicle, he said on Podcast and Chill with MacG with hosts MacG (Macgyver Mukwevho) and Sol Phenduka.
“My parents still live in Pretoria. I used to party there a lot but stopped after I got hijacked in 2016. That was a wake-up call,” he said.
“They saw me holding a wine opener,” he said, referring to what the hijackers perceived as a weapon.
Despite this, the men demanded his bank cards, withdrawing R750 — the only money he had in his account.
The ordeal escalated when the hijackers discovered Masha’s public profile.
“When one of them recognised me, they panicked,” he recounted, describing how the situation became more volatile. The hijackers eventually tied his hands with jumper cables and locked him in the car boot.
Masha explained how he attempted to humanise himself by sharing a photo of his daughter and his personal struggles, which seemed to elicit some sympathy. Despite his efforts, an escape attempt was thwarted when the hijackers caught him opening the car boot.
The actor’s account also highlighted broader social issues, including the rise of crime as a culture in townships.
Masha attributed the crisis to unemployment and the influx of individuals into urban areas. He described a “gangster’s paradise” where communities, frustrated by ineffective law enforcement, take matters into their own hands.
This harrowing experience reflects a broader systemic issue. The crime hierarchy Masha described sees petty criminals ascend to organised crime, with some gaining control over local resources or entering politics.
IOL