A man who said he was deeply sad inside was given a second chance at life on Saturday morning after security guards and members of the public stopped him from jumping off the Okavango Road flyover onto the N1 highway.
The dramatic incident happened early on Saturday and was later shared by private security company Titanium Securitas on its Facebook page. A short video of the rescue shows officers speaking calmly to the distressed man as he stood on the edge of the bridge.
According to Titanium, members of the public alerted them to a man in a dark blue suit who was climbing onto the side of the flyover. He appeared ready to jump onto the busy highway below.
Concerned passers-by did not ignore the situation. They delayed the man and called for help. Three Titanium Crime Prevention Unit vehicles were sent to the scene.
The officers then began speaking to the man, who is believed to be in his 40s. Their conversation lasted about 30 minutes.
In the one-minute video shared online, the man is only seen from behind. His voice can be heard as he tells the officers: “Ek is so hartseer binne.”
He was expressing that he felt extremely sad inside.
One of the guards responded gently: “Do you go to church at the moment?”
The man replied: “No. But no matter what I do or go through, I always remember God.”
The officer continued, showing care and calmness: “And do you think He [God] would have wanted this for you?”
The man answered softly: “No.”
The officer did not rush him. Instead, he continued to ask questions to help the man think about his life and possible reasons to stay alive.
“Do you have any kids?” he asked.
In a brief moment of humour during the serious discussion, the man replied: “No. Not that I know of.”
The officer then asked whether the man had been using drugs.
He responded: “Not at the moment”, but admitted that he had used tik “two or three weeks ago”.
The guard encouraged him to contact his family and seek help.
“I suggest you give your mother a call tomorrow, explain to her what’s happened and get some help. You’re not a coward if you look for help.
“Every time [you have suicidal thoughts], think twice about it. You want to wind up in the right place at the end of the day. So do what you gotta do tomorrow. And be safe.”
After about half an hour of careful conversation, the officers were able to persuade the man to step away from the edge of the bridge. He was taken to safety and sent home.
Titanium Securitas praised the members of the public who stepped in before officers arrived.
“We would also like to acknowledge the members of the public who intervened and stayed with the individual until help arrived. Your actions made a difference.”
The incident highlights the importance of kindness and calm communication when someone is in emotional crisis. The officers did not use force. Instead, they listened, asked questions and offered support.
Mental health experts say that people who think about suicide often feel alone and overwhelmed. A simple conversation, without judgement, can sometimes be enough to interrupt those thoughts and create space for hope.
In South Africa, support is available for people struggling with depression, anxiety, substance use or suicidal thoughts.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) provides counselling services and access to support groups across the country. The organisation operates several helplines for people in need.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with their mental health or depression, contact the South African Depression and Anxiety Group on 0800 21 22 23 to speak to a counsellor, or SMS 31393 and a counsellor will call you back. For more information and resources, visit www.sadag.org.
SADAG also runs a 24-hour Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0800 567 567 for immediate support.
Thanks to the quick action of bystanders and the patient response of trained officers, what could have been a tragic morning ended with a life saved.
