Hijackings in South Africa have gone up by 55% in four years, according to a recent report on IOL. This amounts to almost 40 vehicles a day. The country’s declining economy and escalating unemployment have resulted in an increase in crime, including vehicle theft.
Some areas seem to be particularly dangerous for hijackings. We look at these hijacking hotspots and what to do if you’re the victim of a hijacking.
Hijacking hotspots in South Africa
Almost two out of every three vehicle theft and car-hijacking crimes in South Africa occur in Gauteng, states the report.
This makes Gauteng the top province on the list of hijacking hotspots. Next comes KwaZulu-Natal at 15% of hijackings, followed by the Western Cape with 5% and Mpumalanga at 3%.
Hijacking hotspots in Gauteng
Ryno Schutte, security expert and managing director of Pro-ActiveSA, who was interviewed on Radio 702 highlighted the hijacking hotspots to avoid.
The places in Gauteng most plagued by hijackings are:
- Booysens
- Jeppestown
- Soshanguve
- Kagiso
- Yeoville
- Honeydew
- Roodepoort
- Brooklyn
- Boksburg
- Alberton
- Linden
- Krugersdorp
- Kempton Park
- Joburg CBD
Most stolen cars
Another report published in Business Tech in February listed the vehicle brands and models that are hijacking targets in South Africa. The most hijacked passenger vehicle is the Volkswagen Polo.
The top 10 most stolen brands are:
- VW
- Toyota
- Ford
- Citroen
- Kia
- Hyundai
- BMW
- Audi
- Renault
- Chevrolet
Toyota’s Fortuner is the most hijacked 4X4, followed by the Land Rover and Nissan brands.
Nissan and Scania trucks are most targeted by criminals followed by Hino, Isuzu, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi and Toyota.
What to do if you are hijacked
If you are an unfortunate victim, keep the following expert tips in mind:
- Co-operate with your hijackers as much as possible.
- Show that you are unarmed by raising your hands slowly above your head.
- Exit your vehicle slowly.
- If there are children in the vehicle, calmly tell your hijackers that you need to take them out.
Hijackings usually take place when people are returning from work between 5pm-8pm. Driveways are often targeted as criminals know that motorists will stop to open or close the gate.
People should be vigilant when they enter or leave their driveways. It’s important to keep an eye out for suspicious cars and individuals on the road. Other places where cars are stationary, like traffic lights, can also be targeted.
Criminals can also try to get drivers to leave their vehicles by throwing something on the windscreen or pretending there is something wrong with the vehicle.
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FAQs
Close to 32 percent of all hijacked vehicles were reported as Toyota, followed by Volkswagen, which contributed around 14 percent of all hijacking cases. These brands are also the most popular cars among South African motorists. In general, hijackers tend to target Toyota Hilux, Fortuner, and Etios ranges.
What is the most hijacked Toyota in South Africa? ›
So says Fidelity Services Group, which has released a list of the seven most high-risk models for hijacks in South Africa. They are: the Toyota Fortuner (GD6 and D4D), Hilux (GD6 and D4D), Corolla Cross, RAV 4; VW Polo (especially hatchbacks);
Is carjacking a problem in South Africa? ›
It is no secret that in recent years, South Africa has experienced an increasing number of hijackings. According to the latest crime statistics, the annual total for hijackings in South Africa has reached its highest point ever.
How many vehicles are stolen each year in South Africa? ›
According to the latest SAPS crime data, theft of vehicles is far more prevalent than carjackings, with 37,426 cases recorded in 2022/23. From 1 January to 31 March 2023, 5,119 cars were stolen, equating to approximately 57 cars being stolen in the country every day.
What cars are most likely to be hijacked in South Africa? ›
[2023] The top six most hijacked vehicles are (in order):
- VW Polo.
- Toyota Hilux.
- Toyota Etios.
- Ford Ranger.
- Toyota Fortuner.
- Nissan NP200.
“Hijackers target specific vehicles for a specific purpose and market. The demand for Toyotas, VWs, Fords, and Nissans remains high on the black market,” he said. As a result, Bartmann highlighted the most hijacked cars among these brands – based on the Fidelity SecureDrive base for 2023 and into the new year.
Which car is safe in South Africa? ›
The Mahindra XUV300 boasts a range of safety features that contribute to its recognition as one of the safest cars on South African roads.
Which sedans are stolen the most in South Africa? ›
According to Statista, the most hijacked vehicles in South Africa are Toyotas (32% of hijackings), followed by Volkswagen (14% of hijackings).
Which car gets stolen the most? ›
Two Dodge muscle cars, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat and Dodge Charger HEMI, once again top the Highway Loss Data Institute's list of the most-stolen vehicles for model years 2020-22. Meanwhile, a viral trend targeting Hyundai-Kia vehicles propelled four Kia models into the top 20.
Is crime still bad in South Africa? ›
Violent crime in South Africa has spiked over the past decade after a period when it decreased substantially. There were 27,494 killings in South Africa in the year to February 2023, compared with 16,213 in 2012-2013.
Report it missing and fill out the necessary paperwork. In most circ*mstances the police will come to your house to make things easier for you during the unpleasant experience. The cops are able to put out an alert that informs the police force in your city that your vehicle is missing.
Is it safe to drive a car in South Africa? ›
Driving in South Africa is reasonably safe, but has its challenges. From wildlife and roadside crime to poor rural roads, here's everything you need to know. Roads in South Africa are well maintained and easy to navigate, and for the most part travelers who hire a car to explore the country say it's a piece of cake.
Which country steals the most cars? ›
New Zealand has the highest auto-theft rate for any fairly large country in the world, at 1172.0 per 100,000 residents in 2018.
Which city in South Africa has the most hijackings? ›
However, Gauteng still has the most hijackings overall, with a 17% increase. According to Crime stats SA, over 19 380 vehicles were reported hijacked and stolen in Gauteng in less than a year. Cartrack, a global leader in stolen vehicle recovery, has also reported a rise in hijacking incidents in the past year.
How often is a car hijacked in South Africa? ›
The latest police crime statistics showed that around 60 vehicles are hijacked in South Africa every day.
What brand of car is stolen the most? ›
1. Chevrolet full-size pickups. Nearly 50,000 full-size Chevrolet pickups were stolen in 2022, making the truck the most-stolen car in America and the car with the highest theft rate — 886 stolen per 100,000 vehicles.
