Miss SA is ‘hijack ready’
Last year, MasterDrive had the opportunity to share their hijack management course with the then reigning Miss South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters. Only a few days after this, Nel-Peters escaped being harmed in a hijacking in which the skills she learnt with MasterDrive played a significant role.
These same skills have now been shared with the top 12 finalists of Miss South Africa 2018. MasterDrive has a vested interest in empowering all the finalists to look after their own safety. The morning was spent providing information important to avoiding vulnerable positions where possible and then showing the finalists what to do should they find themselves in this traumatic position. The finalists enjoyed the morning while also learning valuable lessons such as how it is possible to unintentionally provoke a hijacker.
According to the managing director of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, they aim to share this info with as many people as possible. “Following Demi-Leigh’s experience we were able to partner with her in her Unbreakable campaign where she shared the skills she used to escape her hijackers. This gave us the opportunity to empower even more ladies with the life-saving skills.
“Now each of the 2018 finalists can also take these skills with them as each starts their career. Unfortunately, hijackings are a very real reality in South Africa and being prepared for it is a critical skill which every person needs to have. While we will never know how we will react in a traumatic situation until it happens, it is important to have the knowledge of what you should do, in mind.”
Statistically approximately, 40 people are hijacked in South Africa every day. With this in mind, Herbert encourages the finalists to share what they learnt with their loved ones. It could be life-saving information to many people. “We wish all the contestants the best of luck for the finals on 27 May as well as in all endeavours that follow this experience,” says Herbert.