Welcome to carjacking city...and the armed guards risking their lives

1 May 2014

Carjacking, mugging, shoot out and robberies - all witnessed by Unreported World during one extraordinary night filming with armed private security guards in the South Africa, Pretoria. 

• At least thirty vehicles are carjacked every day in South Africa – often by gangs using guns and extreme violence
• On average 43 people are murdered each day in South Africa and gangs have killed for a mobile phone
• There are more than 400,000  private security guards in South Africa more than the police and army combined
• Armed private security guards put their lives in danger for as little as £1.25 per hour

When private security guard Andries Hlongwane leaves for work, he takes the fear of not returning home to his family with him.

Andries’s story is available to watch and share on Unreported World Shorts: Carjack City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUombLJ_Olg&list=PLBKfErliSueNJ_4OE2_mUnjvVn5QhLnku

Andries Hlongwane is just one of over 400,000 private security guards in South Africa, a country where violent crime is rising and police protection depends on where you live.

Every day around 30 cars are hijacked but in order to improve his families life, Andrries must risk his own. A single 12 hour shift can include carjacking, muggings, shoot outs and robberies and all for a meagre £1.25 per hour. But in a country with 25% unemployment, Andries is just lucky to have a job.

Reporter Marcel Theroux and director James Brabazon visit the South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, where carjacking is rife. They go on patrol with Andries Hlongwane – who works for a private security firm – as he chases the gunmen and recovers stolen cars.

Unreported World: Carjack City

UK Premiere, Channel 4, 7.30pm, Friday 2 May

Series Outline: Critically acclaimed series on the lives of people in some of the fastest-changing areas of the world.

Website: www.channel4.com/unreportedworld