A dramatic parking lot altercation at an Engen garage in Woodmead, Johannesburg, has set social media ablaze after a small bakkie was filmed repeatedly reversing into a Volkswagen Golf 5 GTI, leaving the popular hatchback with extensive damage.
The incident, which unfolded over the weekend, was captured on video and widely shared online on Sunday night. The footage shows a black Golf GTI apparently blocking in an Ashok Leyland Dosk bakkie. Moments later, the driver of the compact workhorse is seen reversing into the Golf multiple times in an apparent bid to break free.
Although the events leading up to the confrontation were not recorded, the video begins with several occupants from the Golf approaching the bakkie. As tensions escalate, the bakkie driver suddenly throws the vehicle into reverse, slamming into the Golf. The impact sends onlookers scrambling out of the way.
In total, the driver reverses into the GTI three times before managing to create enough space to escape. As he attempts to flee, men believed to be associated with the Golf make a last-ditch effort to confront him, with one appearing to try and reach through the driver’s window. The bakkie, however, speeds off from the scene.
https://x.com/i/status/2025833182088647159
Images circulating online show significant damage to the side of the Golf GTI, with crumpled panels and visible bodywork deformation. The once-pristine hot hatch appeared to have borne the brunt of the clash, its sporty styling no match for the determined manoeuvres of the smaller commercial vehicle.
The Ashok Leyland Dosk, notably South Africa’s most affordable new bakkie with a starting price of around R179,900, is typically associated with light-duty work rather than high-speed drama. Yet in what many online users have dubbed a real-life “David and Goliath” moment, the modestly priced bakkie emerged as the unlikely aggressor against the performance-focused GTI.
Social media reaction was swift and divided. A significant number of users sided with the bakkie driver, arguing that being boxed in justified his desperate attempt to free himself. Others criticised the level of force used, warning that the situation could easily have resulted in serious injuries.
The South African Police Service has reportedly launched an investigation into the matter, although no official statement had been released at the time of publication. It remains unclear whether charges will be laid or whether any of the parties involved have formally opened a case.
Road rage incidents continue to plague South African roads and parking areas, often escalating rapidly from minor disputes into dangerous confrontations. This latest episode serves as a stark reminder of how quickly tempers can flare — and how costly the consequences can be.
For now, the Woodmead Engen showdown remains a viral talking point, with many South Africans debating who was truly in the wrong in a clash that left twisted metal and bruised egos in its wake.
About the Author
