RAM in the News

Thursday 23 May was business as usual for RAM driver Sebastian Jacobs. Sebastian likes to ensure that all his deliveries are made by 15h00 every day, because he feels that the late afternoons seem to attract bad elements on the streets.

Sebastian had just parked outside the premises of his last delivery in Mayfair when a car pulled up close beside him, making it impossible for him to get out of the van. As he leaned out the window to ask the driver to move, he realised the passengers in the car were armed. One of the suspects pulled Sebastian out of the van, holding a gun to his head. Another escorted his co-driver from the passenger seat and locked him in the back.

Sebastian knew he had to flee somehow, and managed to hit the armed robber’s gun-wielding hand out of the way. He then ran towards the nearest building. Two shots were fired at Sebastian, both of which fortunately missed him. The suspects then climbed into the RAM van and drove off.

“I knew I had to act quickly,” says Sebastian. “I took off my RAM shirt so the hijackers wouldn’t recognise me, and ran down the street to see where they were heading. Their vehicle sped across an intersection with the van following, but the hijackers did not see a car approaching. They swerved to miss the vehicle and smashed into a pole.”

Sebastian continues, “I then realised that my priority was to retrieve the parcel for delivery. I got to the back of the van without the suspects spotting me. I opened the back door, grabbed the parcel and ran to the client to deliver it and report the hijacking to the RAM Control Room. In the meantime, the suspects’ vehicle had turned around to collect their accomplices and together they fled the scene.”

“Sebastian’s bravery, quick thinking and dedication to make his last delivery despite the odds, is heroic and exemplary,” says Joint MD Graeme Lazarus. “For this reason we’re honouring him with the RAM Outstanding Service Award. Sebastian went beyond the call of duty and put a client’s needs before his own, and for that we are extremely proud of him.”