Sandton, South Africa – A routine rush-hour commute on Johannesburg’s M1 highway spiralled into a scene of terrifying violence when a private VIP cavalcade, reportedly transporting controversial steel magnate Rafik Mohamed, became embroiled in a road-rage incident that culminated in a 30-year-old doctor being shot in the leg. The shocking event, involving “protection vehicles fitted with medical emergency lights,” has once again cast a harsh spotlight on the pervasive abuse of such lights by private security firms and the alarming impunity with which some operate on South African roads.
Two men, identified as Greg van Rooyen and Ruan Badenhorst, employed as protectors by the Johannesburg-based close protection company Pro VIP Medical and Tactical, have since appeared in court. Both individuals were released on bail, facing a litany of serious charges. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that the charges include attempted murder, discharging a firearm in a public place, malicious injury to property, and reckless endangerment of lives and property. The case has been postponed to June 9, promising further developments in this high-profile incident.
Dr Michael Jeff, the victim, recounted his harrowing experience, stating he was driving to Morningside Mediclinic just after 5 pm when the three-vehicle cavalcade approached him from behind in heavy traffic. The convoy consisted of two menacing black BMW X7 SUVs, both conspicuously fitted with red emergency lights, and a black sedan. In a police statement seen by the Sunday Times, Jeff detailed how the SUVs began aggressively flashing their headlights, demanding he move out of their way. When the dense traffic made it impossible for him to comply safely, the situation rapidly escalated from an inconvenience to a life-threatening confrontation.
Jeff’s account describes how the vehicles eventually bypassed him by driving in the emergency lane. As they passed, the occupants of the first car rolled down their windows, unleashing a torrent of yelling and expletives directed at him. The confrontation, already tense, turned overtly violent moments later on the Grayston Drive off-ramp. After Jeff managed to drive past the cars at speed, the VIP protectors retaliated with a coordinated and aggressive manoeuvre.
“Two of the vehicles moved aggressively around me,” Jeff stated, describing how one car abruptly slammed on its brakes directly in front of him, while another flanked him on the right, effectively boxing him in and blocking any escape. This deliberate act of intimidation quickly transitioned into a physical assault on his vehicle. Jeff recounted how two men exited the front and side vehicles, launching a direct attack on his car, “smashing” his side mirrors and violently hitting his windows. One assailant attempted to force open his car doors, while another struck the windscreen, further intensifying the terror of the situation.
According to the police statement, in a desperate attempt to escape the escalating violence, Jeff tried to manoeuvre his vehicle between the cars, colliding with the vehicle in front of him. It was at this critical juncture that the men drew firearms. The doctor claims he immediately raised his hands in a clear gesture to show he was unarmed, but his plea was ignored. The individuals then “fired multiple gunshots at my vehicle,” a terrifying act of aggression that resulted in Jeff being shot in the leg after a bullet tragically penetrated his car door. Despite his severe injury, he miraculously managed to drive himself to the hospital, a testament to his composure under extreme duress. Jeff has since referred the Sunday Times to his attorney, Ian Levitt, who has yet to comment on the matter.
Adding another layer of complexity to the incident is the alleged presence of Rafik Mohamed, the VIP client believed to be in the cavalcade at the time. Mohamed is the owner of SA Steel Mills (SASM), a company currently embroiled in a separate R1.1 billion funding scandal involving the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). This scandal has already led to the suspension of two IDC employees, following a forensic report commissioned by the IDC that raised serious questions about whether SASM’s plant assets were inflated during key development funding phases. The confluence of these two high-profile incidents – a violent road-rage shooting and a massive financial scandal – paints a troubling picture of power, influence, and alleged misconduct.
Mohamed’s legal representative, Safraaz Laher, has stated that the two arrested men were not employed by Mohamed. Laher, citing his client’s “safety, privacy and dignity,” declined to confirm whether Mohamed was indeed being transported in the cavalcade at the time of the incident. Crucially, Laher asserted that Mohamed denies any wrongdoing and does not accept responsibility for the alleged conduct of the third-party security personnel. Regarding the IDC case, Laher maintained that Mohamed “is not aware of any pending IDC investigation against him personally and objects to the conflation of an alleged road incident with unrelated IDC/SASM allegations,” attempting to distance his client from both controversies.
This incident has reignited public debate and outrage over the conduct of private security details, particularly those who operate with a perceived sense of entitlement and disregard for public safety. The use of emergency lights by private vehicles, often mimicking official law enforcement or medical services, has been a contentious issue for years, with critics arguing it creates confusion and fosters a culture of impunity. The shooting of a medical professional during a road-rage incident involving such a cavalcade underscores the urgent need for stricter regulation and enforcement of laws governing private security operations.
The case also raises broader questions about accountability for individuals of influence and the actions of those employed to protect them. As the legal proceedings unfold, the public will be watching closely to see if justice is served, not only for Dr Jeff but also in addressing the systemic issues that allow such dangerous incidents to occur on South Africa’s roads. The outcome could set a significant precedent for how private security firms and their high-profile clients are held responsible for their actions.
