Kidnapping on the Rise in South Africa
Pretoria FM reported this morning that 44 men from Ethiopia were rescued early this morning from a house in Parkmore in Sandton, where they had apparently been held for some time. According to the police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo 17 men were held in one room, and 24 in another room of the house. He says one of the victims told police that they were brought to the house in South Africa from Ethiopia. [1]
In a report published by Natalie Cowling in December 2024 kidnapping cases in South Africa have reached alarming levels, with a total of 17,061 incidents reported in 2023/2024. This represents an 11 percent increase from the previous year, highlighting a growing concern for public safety across the nation. Gauteng province, home to major cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria, recorded the highest number of kidnappings at 8,683 cases, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 3,329 cases. [2]
The stark and often unaccepted reality is that South Africa has become a prominent arena for kidnappings. In response to this mornings incident, ActionSA spokesperson Lerato Ngobeni responded by saying that human trafficking is on the rise in South Africa. According to her, 17 of the victims are minors, and some of them are from Bangladesh. She said the men were lured to South Africa with the promise of work. Ngobeni says this incident comes shortly after 26 people were rescued from a house in Sandringham earlier this year. In August last year, 90 people were rescued in Sunningdale, and in August 2023, 26 people were rescued in Benoni after they were also detained. She believes this issue is no longer a so-called national humiliation, but rather a national emergency. Ngobeni believes it is easy for human trafficking syndicates to commit their crimes here because of poorly manned borders, corrupt authorities and a government that does not protect its citizens. Ngobeni says it is time for the South African government to take the problem of human trafficking seriously. [1]
On September 20, 2024, ACDP MP Kenneth Meshoe raised his concerns in this matter during a speech entitled "Kidnapping statistics in South Africa are disheartening and worrying." In his speech, Meshoe stated that "According to the 2023/2024 South African Police Service Crime Statistics, an alarming 4,300 reported kidnapping cases were reported between July and September, while 293 children and 881 women were murdered in the last quarter of 2023. Reports that South Africa has the highest kidnapping rate among African countries with approximately 9.58 kidnappings for every 100,000 people are disheartening and very worrying indeed. Throughout the years, we have seen an increase in lawlessness and in criminals getting away with their crimes. A lack of action by law enforcement agencies indirectly encourages more criminality in the country. [3]
Lizette Lancaster, the Crime Hub Manager for the Institute of Security Studies, Pretoria, noted in an article published in December 2024 that the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) annual crime statistics show that in the past decade, kidnappings increased by 264% from 4 692 in 2014/15 to 17 061 in 2023/24. The most recent quarterly crime stats, released on 25 November, show an ongoing rise. From July to September, the latest period for which there are official crime statistics, a daily average of 50 kidnappings were reported to police – up by nearly 8% compared to the same period in 2023. The risk of kidnapping varies across the country. Gauteng is the most affected province, recording more than half (51%) of all reported incidents, followed by KwaZulu-Natal (20%), Western Cape, and Mpumalanga with 6% each and the Eastern Cape with 5%. The remaining provinces contribute between 1% and 4% each. [4]
According toLancaster's report, kidnapping for ransom often makes headlines, driving the perception that this is a widespread and growing crime. However, less than 5% of all kidnappings reported to police are linked to ransom demands, human trafficking or extortion. While some of the kidnappings for ransom are orchestrated by sophisticated transnational organised groups specialising in high-value targets, most kidnappings are perpetrated by local crime groups. [4] The report by Natalie Cowling however indicates that the rise in kidnappings appears to be driven by organized crime, with ransom-related abductions being the most common motive. In a select sample from the second quarter, 561 kidnappings were linked to ransom demands, while 93 cases were associated with extortion. This trend suggests a quarterly increase in kidnapping incidents, pointing to a persistent and evolving threat to public safety. The Moroka area in Gauteng province reported the highest number of kidnapping offenses, with nearly 240 cases, followed by Orange Farms with over 210 cases. The South African Police Services (SAPS) have reported that most cases were carried out during aggravated robberies such as hijackings and armed robberies at homes, businesses and public areas. [2]
South Africa's kidnapping rate of 9.57 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023 was the highest among countries in Africa, surpassing Benin, which held the second-highest rate. [2] "The fact is kidnapping has, and I suppose still is, considered one of the crimes that people think will never happen to them." said Charles Allen Kemp of the PISA Integrity Assessment Centre. "Many people in South Africa still believe that kidnappings is something that happens in warzones or across the border in lawless third world countries overrun by gangs, syndicates and terrorists. It something to be feared by businessmen traveling to 'exotic locations' or tourists. The reality is that kidnapping is today as real a threat to families and members of society as hijacking, murder and armed robberies. It is not some far away thing that everyone else should be worrying about, we, all of us should be taking protective steps right now. In this year we assisted in an investigation where a disgruntled employee, having drinks with the wrong persons after hours, initiated a plot to kidnap a member of senior management to extort money from the company. This happened here, in Johannesburg, not across the border in some exotic land, here in the industrial hub of Gauteng, South Africa."
"During the preliminary stages of the investigation, it was discovered that the disgruntled employee had a criminal record for housebreaking. We can and should be vigilant for the sake of our loved ones, our children, and our staff members. Who are you really employing? Do you know who you are inviting into your business, into your school, into your home? If not, why not?
References
[1] Pretoria FM. 1 May 2025. 44 Ethiopiese burgers uit Sandton-huis gered. Online: https://www.pretoriafm.co.za/nuus/44-ethiopiese-burgers-uit-sandton-huis-gered/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKAV5dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFVNGY2Ymg0T0E2MjZRRWRXAR48G5rKRjx9MdI4zQ4dMmZSHAzUa1_SKbiQRq-G4lcoeT8h1MeySL0UgNcvHQ_aem_XIIEew7Bpyv4LPxvuv5ONg
[2] Cowling, N. 2024. Number of kidnappings in South Africa 2022/23-2023/24, by province. Online: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1400928/number-of-kidnappings-in-south-africa-by-province/#:~:text=South%20Africa's%20kidnapping%20rate%20of,within%20the%20broader%20African%20context.
[3] Meshoe, K. 2024. Kidnapping statistics in South Africa are disheartening and worrying. Online: https://acdp.org.za/kidnapping-statistics-in-south-africa-are-disheartening-and-worrying/
[4] Lancaster, L. 2024. South Africa’s armed robbery problem drives kidnapping. Institute for Security Studies. Online: https://issafrica.org/iss-today/south-africa-s-armed-robbery-problem-drives-kidnapping
