In response to a troubling surge in hijackings across South Africa, security firm Fidelity ADT has underscored a critical concern: the majority of these incidents continue to occur in residential driveways.
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Recent research from insurance provider MiWay, corroborated by Crime SA, reveals that an alarming 71% of car hijackings take place on victim’s home driveways.
According to BusinessTech, besides residential driveways, shopping malls are identified as hotspots for car theft in South Africa, with hijackers increasingly targeting sporting and school events.
Fidelity noted that vehicle hijackings reflect a market driven by demand and supply. Hijackers target specific vehicles for their high demand in the black market, such as Toyotas, VWs, Fords and Nissans.
The South African Police Services (SAPS) data reveals a year-on-year increase in hijackings across South Africa, with varying spikes in different provinces.
Approximately 66 cars are stolen daily in South Africa, with the most high-risk provinces coinciding with the most populated areas.
SAPS reported significant year-on-year increases (>10%) in hijackings in Gauteng (14.4%), the Western Cape (14%), and North West (11%) provinces.
Kwa-Zulu Natal saw a 17.6% decrease in carjackings, with the Eastern Cape following at -5.2%.
In the last quarter of 2023, Gauteng recorded 3 010 carjackings, comprising 50.4% of all carjackings in Q3 2023/24.
In the Western Cape, there were 856 carjackings, and Kwa-Zulu Natal saw 834 incidents.
Detailed station data reveals Gauteng as the highest region for hijackings, with Ivory Park in Ekurhuleni recording the most cases.
In Johannesburg, Jabulani saw a 300% increase in reported cases compared to last year.
The top hijacking hotspots for the three most populated provinces are listed below:
Gauteng:
- Ivory Park
- Moroka
- Loate
- Orange Farms
- Eldorado Park
Kwa-Zulu Natal:
- Umlazi
- Mariannhill
Western Cape:
- Philippi East
- Harare
- Nyanga
- Mfuleni
- Delft
‘Simply being aware of what is happening around your vehicle can make a massive and positive difference to your safety,’ said Charnel Hattingh, group head of communications and marketing at Fidelity Services Group.
‘In a sad situation where you become a victim of a hijacking, it is critical to remain calm and comply with instructions.’
‘Try to notice as much information as you can about the hijackers and the backup car they might be using,’ she added.
‘Speak to your insurance provider about the vehicle tracking device they recommend. This could help you in the safe and quick recovery of your vehicle,’ Hattingh added.
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Picture: Sharon Seretio / Gallo