The Western Cape Social Development Department has confirmed that two people have been arrested in connection with a hijacking case involving one of its staff members. Western Cape Police reportedly recovered the stolen vehicle involved in the hijacking, and the two suspects were arrested two weeks ago.

Minister Wendy Kaizer-Philander has welcomed the arrests and added that the matter is before court. The department has reportedly requested a watching brief to monitor the progress of the case.

“We call on [police] to get to the root cause of these attacks so that DSD staff can operate safely in the communities they serve. We will continue working with SAPS and other relevant partners to ensure that staff are protected and that those responsible are held accountable,” said Minister Kaizer-Philander

The department has reported 86 hijackings involving employees driving government vehicles since 2023. This includes social work staff in local and regional offices, and staff at our child and youth care centres. According to Kaizer-Philander, the number of hijackings has escalated this year, with the total already at 27 incidents, compared to 17 last year.

Last month, the department reported two hijackings and one attempted hijacking case in the space of a week, all reported in Khayelitsha.

According to the minister, the department has held discussions with various stakeholders, including SAPS leadership and Government Motor Transport, to improve the safety of its staff members and to discuss strategies to mitigate the risks to staff when driving their vehicles.

“While details of the security protocols cannot be made public without compromising safety, the Department is in discussions with various stakeholders to improve safety. Minister Kaizer-Philander met with SAPS leadership at the end of August to discuss staff safety and ways they could support DSD.”

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape, however, says it is also alarmed that 206 attacks on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel and emergency response vehicles were recorded across the Western Cape over the three financial years from 2023/24 to 2025/26. It says that attacks on social workers demonstrate that the problem extends well beyond emergency medical services.

According to the party, internal records from the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness show that 20 government vehicles were hijacked over the past two financial years. Twelve hijackings were recorded during 2025/26, with a further eight recorded in 2026/27 by 27 August. Khayelitsha was among the areas most affected, recording five hijackings in 2025/26 and a further three in the current financial year.

DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Health and Wellness, Memory Booysen, says the party is calling for stronger cooperation between law enforcement agencies, targeted policing in hotspot areas, effective prosecution of offenders and greater protection for frontline workers entering high-risk communities.

“Our healthcare workers, EMS personnel, social workers and child-protection officials should never have to choose between doing their jobs and their personal safety. The Western Cape needs to get a grip on the continued scourge of crime. Protecting those who protect and serve our communities must be an absolute priority,” said Booysen

READ MORE: WC Department Social Development staff attacked in Khayelitsha