Private security warns of kidnapping surge in South Africa

[Nat Quinn]

Private security warns of kidnapping surge in South Africa

Private security group Fidelity has warned South Africans of a spike in kidnappings in the country this year, with over 3,600 cases recorded in the last quarter alone.

According to SAPS statistics, 3,641 cases of kidnapping were registered in South Africa in the first quarter of 2023/2024 (April to June 2023).

While there are kidnappings in all nine provinces, Gauteng had the highest number of cases, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. The Northern Cape and Free State recorded the lowest number.

Gauteng’s top five hotspots are Vosloorus, Thembisa, Midrand, Protea and Orange Farm.

In KZN, the top five high-risk areas for kidnappings are Umlazi, Inanda, Durban Central, Pinetown and Ntuzuma.

CEO of Fidelity Services Group, Wahl Bartmann said that the public should not be naïve about the profile of victims or kidnappers’ motivations.

Bartmann said that when most people hear of a kidnapping, they immediately think of a high-net-worth businessperson being held for a ransom of millions.

While the country has seen its fair share of these kinds of kidnappings over the years, he stressed that “the ordinary man in the street” is a target for criminals too.

“An increasingly prevalent trend in recent times is ‘express kidnappings’, where motorists are hijacked and driven in their own vehicle or another vehicle to an ATM and forced to withdraw cash. They are then also robbed of valuables before being left at an isolated location,” Bartmann said.

Human trafficking, particularly the abduction of women and children, also remains a pervasive issue in South Africa.

“In fact, it is more prevalent in ‘quiet suburbia’ than many residents would like to acknowledge,” he said.

The security expert said that the ‘clients’ in kidnapping cases are as diverse as the crime itself, and can be anyone from criminal organisations and political extremists to ransom kidnappers and family members embroiled in a dispute of some sort.

“Criminal organisations, such as drug cartels, terrorist organisations and criminal gangs, target people they can gain financially from, there’s a political reason or the deed will help them to exert control over a particular area. Political extremists may target government officials, diplomats or foreigners to advance their agendas or make demands.

“Kidnapping for ransom is simply criminals looking for financial gain by targeting wealthy individuals, businesspeople or tourists who are perceived to have the means to pay a significant ransom. In some cases, custody disputes can lead to the abduction of a child and, in rare cases, an individual with a psychological disorder can engage in kidnapping for reasons not easily explained.”

To avoid falling victim to kidnappers, Bartmann said being vigilant around your personal safety is imperative at all times.

Most of the same precautions you would take in everyday life in South Africa apply, as does common sense.

Here are 6 important tips:

1. Don’t be flashy with expensive jewellery and other items in public;

2. Vary your routines or periodically change travel routes;

3. Don’t engage with strangers;

4. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, especially when leaving and arriving home;

5. Secure your home, particularly the perimeter with electric fencing, proper lighting and CCTV;

6. If threatened, attract attention.

Bartmann concludes that motives behind kidnapping can be multifaceted and may vary depending on the specific circumstances and the region where the crime occurs.

“While law enforcement agencies and private security experts work to address and prevent kidnappings, by understanding these motives and taking appropriate measures to combat this criminal activity, each and every one of us has a responsibility towards our own personal safety. Vigilance is key,” he said.

 

SOURCE:Private security warns of kidnapping surge in South Africa – BusinessTech

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