Spiking: Here’s where SA motorists are most likely to be targeted ‘by new criminal trend’

The act of ‘spiking’ has become an increasingly troublesome issue in some parts of South Africa, as petty thugs target motorists on busy highways late at night. This week, the Community Policing Forum (CPF) published the first guide to local hot-spots – where this crime occurs most often – in order to help South Africans avoid a traumatic experience.

What is spiking?

The new criminal trend sees spikes hidden in the road, with the express intention of bursting tyres and slowing cars down to rob the occupants. This anarchic behaviour is also supported by other petty crimes, such as rock-throwing and the placement of stones or ‘significant debris’ on the road. Both the N4 and N1 have been ‘significantly affected’.

According to the CPF, cars that are already in distress prove to be the perfect target for these highway robbers. Those who may get caught-up in these situations have been told to ‘try and get as far away from the incident site as possible’:

“Spiking and other road hazards have become a huge risk for motorists. Cars that are broken down, or having to pull over, have become high-risk targets. We urge all road users to report immediately when they see vehicles with their hazards on. If you become a victim of spiking, our advice is to carry on driving for as far as you can.”

Where are the spiking hot-spots in South Africa?

As previously mentioned, spiking mainly happens under the cover of darkness. It’s an issue that is now prevalent in Gauteng, North West and Mpumalanga. Here are the main times and locations where these crime usually take place.

N4 (Pretoria to Witbank)

• – Donkerhoek Plaza: 19:00 – 4:00
• – Solomon Mahlangu Interchange: 23:00 – 4:00
• – Proefplass Interchange: 19:00 – 4:00

N4 (Brits)

• – M17 at Garankua Bridge: 23:00 – 4:00
• – R101 at Old Warmbaths Road: 3:00
• – R80 Hercules – Soshanguve: Overnight, no specific times given

N1 (Both northbound and southbound)

• Pumulani at Walmansthal off AND on ramps: Overnight, no specific times given

#Spiking Alert pic.twitter.com/UMJ3wbVOrx

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) May 11, 2021