The post was published by X’s account called @Africa_Archives to its almost one million followers. AFP Fact Check previously removed the account’s content (see here, here, and here).
The response to the post — which has garnered thousands of likes and hundreds of retweets — read: “That driver deserves medals and should be working for @SAPoliceService under the speeding department. (sic).”
However, some comments dispute the location, saying it happened in the Caribbean country of Barbados.
A similar claim and video was also circulated in 2023 on a Kenyan forum and X.
However, the claim is false.
Championship in Barbados
A reverse image search of key frames in the video confirmed that it was recorded in Barbados.
According to national media (here and here), a public transport driver, Marlon Tempro, used his driving skills to thwart a robbery attempt on July 16, 2024 (archived here and here).
The incident was captured on a security dash cam inside the car.
The video went viral and Barbadians praised Tempro for his bravery and quick thinking after the couple’s intentions became clear.
“My whole idea was to get out of this situation safely, as little damage as possible and get out unscathed and try to at least get back home to my family,” Tempro told reporters in an interview days later (archived here).
Barbados police have issued a wanted report for one of the suspects, who was 18 years old. He later surrendered to police on July 20, 2023, and was charged with a four-day robbery (archived here, here and. here).
A second suspect, aged 16, was also arrested and charged with the robbery of the Tempro and the use of a firearm (held here).
Crime in South Africa
The Minister of Police in South Africa, Senzo Mchunu, said crime is rampant when he released the country’s quarterly crime statistics for August 30, 2024 (saved here).
“The crimes that should concern us the most are: murder, rape, carjacking, kidnapping for payment, and extortion,” said Mchunu.
South Africa has the highest crime rate in the world. It recorded around 84 murders per day between October and December 2023, according to official figures (stored here).