For every ten dockets the police close every year, an average of 6 are closed without resolution, the Minister of Police revealed in a reply to Parliament in October. 

About 2.04-million new dockets were opened in the 2024 financial year, and 1.93-million were closed.

780k cases were solved, but 1.15-million had no resolution.

By the end of the year, the police service still had a total of 1.9-million cases open and under investigation. These include cases from previous years that have still not been closed. The number of open cases has been steadily increasing since 2015, when there were 1.5-million.

Dockets closed without resolution “can be reopened if, for example, new evidence emerges,” the police minister said.

The number of dockets opened every year saw a sharp drop between 2019 and 2021. Though the number has risen since then, it is still lower than it was in 2019. Criminologist at Stellenbosch University, Guy Lamb, says this is likely because of the decriminalisation of cannabis possession.

Written by The Outlier and GroundUp and republished with permission. The original article can be found here.

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In the majority of cases where women are murdered, the perpetrators are their intimate partners. In about 30% of these cases, there was a prior history of domestic violence, according to the report. The true figure is likely higher.

Guns are also responsible for about 35% of women’s deaths.

Although there are legal provisions that require firearms to be removed in domestic violence cases, these are not adequately implemented.

Only about 2% of women domestic violence victims killed in 2017 held protection orders at the time of their killing. And where protection orders are held, they are not properly enforced, and firearms are seldom permanently removed from abusive partners.

“Firearms do not get removed,” said gender violence researcher Lisa Vetten, who authored the report, during the launch. “There are a couple of reasons for this: women not knowing that they can ask for a firearm to be removed, magistrates not ordering the removal of a firearm when criminal charges are laid, and police not seizing firearms [when they are ordered to].”

A history of domestic violence or protection orders should be used to deny people firearm competence certificates, but aren’t, said Vetten.

Jessica Shah, speaking at the event, told how her daughter, Sasha Lee, was fatally shot at the age of 25 by her abusive former partner, Kyle Inderlall, in 2022 in KwaZulu-Natal.

Inderlall was a security guard and was in possession of a work-issued firearm. He also owned a rifle and another firearm, which he would frequently use to threaten her.

This was despite Shah having taken out a protection order against Inderlall, and a court order for Inderlall’s firearms to be removed. Another partner of Inderlall also had a protection order against him.

The report also notes that firearms not only do harm when they kill, but also when they are used for emotional and physical abuse.

Henrietta du Preez, a domestic violence survivor and former police officer, shared at the event how she was abused by the father of her children. He was also a police officer and would often use his police-issued firearm to intimidate her.

“I came to a point where I knew that as long as I acted accordingly and did not make him mad, I would not get shot,” said du Preez.

He would also intimidate her with pepper spray, a taser and work boots. He also attempted to run her over with a police van.

Du Preez turned to the courts for protection and maintenance orders, and approached social work services and the police for assistance. Police managers told her they would not get involved in officers’ private lives. Ultimately, she was not assisted.

The report recommends that the police publish statistics annually on how many firearm competency certificates are denied or opposed because of past domestic violence, and on compliance with firearm removal orders. This data must be made available to researchers and policymakers to assess the efficacy of the firearms control act, the report says.

The report also calls for the Domestic Violence Act regulations to be amended so that there is a dedicated form to be used for seizing firearms, which must be completed and returned to the court by police officers. If a firearm is not removed, there must be an explanation why.

“When the courts order the removal of a firearm, the police are not permitted to disregard the instruction and disciplinary measures must be instituted accordingly should they do so,” reads the report.

Written by Mary-Anne Gontsana for GroundUp and republished with permission. The original article can be found here.

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The tip-off reportedly given to “military police officials” of the Mthatha-based infantry battalion saw soldiers alert Lebombo customs officials to an apparently abandoned and loaded truck at a nearby fuel stop on the N4. The loaded truck/trailer was taken to the SA Revenue Service (SARS) Lebombo where more than 6 700 pairs of sneakers as well as 340 pairs of Diesel branded and 216 branded pairs of G-Star jeans were found. The trainers were branded Adidas, Jordan, Lacoste, New Balance, Nike, Reebok and Vans.

All told the clothing and footwear was valued at R8 427 600. In addition to the big Lebombo haul soldiers also relieved smugglers of unspecified contraband worth R1.69 million on the Mpumalanga/Mozambique border in November.

The trade in counterfeit goods is a major issue for South Africa’s law enforcement agencies, which recently recorded other successes. At the end of October 2025, the Hawks seized R59 million worth of counterfeit Nike, Versace, and Gucci products during a raid on a freight container depot in Durban. Weeks earlier, authorities seized R260 million worth of illicit goods from over 100 shops in the North West province – police seized over 86 000 counterfeit items from stores in Coligny, Klerksdorp, Lichtenburg, Mahikeng, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg, Ventersdorp, and Zeerust.

In revealing its Operation Shanela II and Safer Festive Season Operation statistics over the last week, the SAPS said in the Western Cape, they uncovered an illicit alcohol manufacturing plant in Lansdowne and arrested two suspects aged between 26 and 39 years old. They were arrested for the illegal manufacturing and distributing liquor. Seizures included manufacturing equipment, an assortment of alcohol branding stickers, and unknown liquids.

The illicit alcohol industry has grown from R6.4 billion in value in 2017 to R16.5 billion in 2024. It has become so prevalent that roughly one in five bottles of alcohol is illicit. These are mostly either counterfeit or smuggled into South Africa.

Also in the Western Cape last week, members of the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Narcotics Unit intercepted a truck on the N12 en route from Johannesburg to George carrying drugs. A box containing cocaine worth R3.6 million was seized and arrested a 46-year-old suspect for dealing in cocaine.

In Mpumalanga, police acting on intelligence intercepted a truck pulling two trailers with 12 water tanks with 5000-litre capacity packed with cartons of illicit cigarettes. The seized consignment consisted of 25 pallets of illicit cigarettes worth R17.4 million. A 43-year-old foreign national from the Kingdom of Eswatini was arrested after the discovery of illicit cigarettes hidden inside water tanks in Sundra on 5 December 2025.

Also in Mpumalanga, two Zimbabwean foreign nationals were arrested for dealing in dagga. This is after police intercepted a truck on the N2 Road from Empangeni en route to Zimbabwe and discovered six big bags of compressed dagga to the value of R1.2 million on 4 December 2025.

According to statistics from the Joint Operations Division of the SANDF, in November soldiers, from both regular SA Army and Army Reserve units, also stopped drugs worth just over R2 million from coming into South Africa via the country’s borders with Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

An unspecified number of vehicles with a total value of R1.45 million were prevented from illegally exiting South Africa en route to chop shops or for export from Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

That the original reason for the Operation Corona border safeguarding tasking – preventing illegal immigrants – still applies comes with interception of 302 in November, with 239 Zimbabweans the majority of those handed to police and Department of Home Affairs (DHA) officials. Basotho, Mozambicans, Swazis and Zimbabweans made up the remaining illegal immigrants nabbed by soldiers who were also integral to the detention of 30 suspects sought by police in connection with crimes not specified by the Joint Operations Division.

Livestock – cattle, goats and sheep – found illegally with an attributed value of R872 210 on South African pastureland was impounded. As is normal Basotho pastoralists were the biggest offenders accounting for R622 710 worth of livestock which either wandered across a non-existent or broken border fence or were herded into the Free State province.

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These are not isolated tragedies; they reveal a system incapable of defending the very citizens it claims to serve.

The official Witness Protection Programme (WPP), operating under the National Prosecuting Authority, is meant to safeguard witnesses. In reality, it is plagued by leaks, inefficiency, and chronic underfunding. When Van der Merwe, a key exposer of corruption and murder, was killed on Friday, it was a stark reminder that courage alone cannot guarantee safety. Babita Deokaran and others met similar fates, despite being nominally “protected” by the state.

Too often, whistleblowers are betrayed by the very institutions tasked with their safety. Phakoe’s, Mohlala’s, Deokaran’s, Phenya’s, Mafole’s, and Van der Merwe’s deaths make this brutally clear. If those willing to expose corruption cannot rely on the state, someone else must step in. Civil society organisations with a proven track record of defending accountability, such as OUTA or the IRR, have both the motivation and capability to fill this gap. Courageous individuals are the lifeblood of accountability, and their survival cannot depend on government promises alone.

These organisations could establish dedicated witness-protection units to provide operational safety for whistleblowers. Such units could offer safe houses, secure transport, personal protection, encrypted communications, threat monitoring, and psychological support. Unlike government programmes, they could act swiftly, adapt to evolving risks, and provide protection where bureaucracy and corruption leave official systems exposed.

Around the world, civil-society-led protection is already happening. In Colombia, NGOs provide relocation and support for witnesses of political violence and organised crime. In Italy, anti-mafia initiatives combine police protection with NGO networks assisting witnesses navigating daily life under threat. In Kenya, civil society intervenes in high-profile corruption cases where state mechanisms are overburdened. These examples demonstrate that non-governmental actors can save lives, even when official systems fail.

South Africa’s need is urgent. The WPP is overstretched and compromised. Witnesses willing to expose wrongdoing are dangerously vulnerable. Practical protection, safe houses, secure transport, digital safety, threat intelligence, and counseling can be organised independently by committed civil-society organisations with proper planning and funding. OUTA, the IRR, or similarly mission-driven organisations could move beyond advocacy and rhetoric to take direct responsibility for safeguarding truth-tellers.

The deaths of witnesses Mafole, Phenya, Deokaran, Mohlala and Phokoe are stark reminders that bravery alone is insufficient. Civil society must act decisively, creating operational frameworks that function even when the state cannot be trusted. Courage must be shielded: not celebrated in words but safeguarded in action.

South Africa faces a stark choice: continue exposing its bravest citizens to lethal risk, or empower civil society to step in where the state fails. Without whistleblowers, accountability collapses. Without practical protection, more lives will be lost, and impunity will thrive. The deaths of courageous individuals have already created a chilling effect. Many potential whistleblowers will hesitate to come forward, fearing for their lives. If the country’s future depends on truth-tellers surviving, organisations like OUTA and the IRR must rise to the challenge, providing the protection and support that the state has repeatedly failed to deliver.

Written by Tiego Thotse for The Daily Friend. The original article can be found here.

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Moqhaka Local Municipality, headquartered in Kroonstad, joined the SA Police Service (SAPS) and the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) as government organisations/structures where “a large quantity” of firearms and ammunition were taken from a municipal building.

The SAPS said the theft is believed to have occurred on 1 December in the early hours of the morning, and was discovered the following day by a municipal employee arriving at work who reportedly found the alarm control box damaged. The armoury door had been forced, apparently with an angle grinder and the safes inside cut open.

Preliminary investigations revealed 43 firearms, including 9 mm pistols, revolvers and pump action shotguns, along with around 1 100 rounds of ammunition and six bulletproof vests, had been stolen. Suspects are believed to have gained entry by breaking through a wall near a bathroom area, the SAPS said.

Bemoaning the loss of the 43 weapons, ammunition and bulletproof vests, Councillor Nick Muller (Democratic Alliance) said questions would be asked of the acting municipal manager.

“We demand clarity and also want a full inventory of municipal firearms and ammunition as well as being informed that all licences, permits and firearm registers are up to date,” he said adding competency of staff and security measures would also be sought.

In November Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia told a Parliamentarian 4 124 SAPS firearms were either stolen or lost between 2019/20 and the present date. He disputed an assertion by MKP (uMkhonto we Sizwe Party) public representative, Wesley Douglas, that 7 500 State-issued firearms were “now in the hands of criminal syndicates”.

In another Parliamentary reply, to the Democratic Alliance’s Deputy Spokesperson on Police Ian Cameron, Cachalia stated that between the 2019/20 and 2023/24 financial years, 3 213 SAPS firearms were stolen in thefts or robberies, and another 220 lost, for a total of 3 433 for that period. Only 559 were recovered.

“While SAPS lists several internal controls, including stocktaking, inspections, and the use of SABS-compliant safes, the persistent leakage of firearms shows these measures are either ineffective or not being properly implemented. The presence of state-issued firearms in the hands of criminals directly fuels South Africa’s violent crime crisis and demonstrates that state mismanagement not law-abiding gun owners, is the primary source of illegally circulating firearms,” Cameron said.

A SAPS working group, set up by National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, is working on a thorough verification process of all SAPS-owned firearms lost/stolen from 2019/2020 on. The report will be ready for submission [presumably to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police] by 15 January.

Cachalia, in a Parliamentary reply to the MK Party’s Crossby Shongwe, acknowledged an increase in illicit firearms entering South Africa, primarily caused by diversion from legal markets (through theft, fraud, and straw purchases) across border trafficking and illicit manufacturing, which are all driven by underlying factors such as high demand from criminal groups, weak regulatory frameworks and corruption.

“Firearms are mainly smuggled from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini and Lesotho. In a sense criminal syndicates are exploiting porous borders and informal crossings. Firearms are concealed when smuggled making detection thereof difficult. Such concealment methods used include bulk carriers, using land (vehicles) air (cargo) and sea (containers) routes. Corruption within law enforcement agencies, in this instance, SAPS, leads to the non-detection of concealed firearms. Firearms are mainly smuggled to commit violent crimes inland to facilitate crimes such as illegal mining, armed robberies, murders, kidnapping, vehicle robberies, cash-in-transit (CIT) and other gang related activities and organised crime operations,” Cachalia’s reply stated.

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In July, Commissioner Michael Masiapato’s fledgling BMA (it marked its second anniversary in October) told Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations (JSCA) and the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs (PCHA) its 2023/24 budget request was R2.9 billion but it received less than half (R1.34 billion). This allocation increased marginally to R1.4 billion in 2024/25, with R1.47 billion allocated for the current 2025/26 financial year.

Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha’s landward force, along with the rest of the SANDF, knows full well and has lived with effective decreases and only minimal funding increases from Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s National Treasury (NT) for more years than successive defence and military veterans’ ministers care to remember. Apart from putting the brakes on acquisition of replacement equipment, this has seen no increase in boots on the ground for the SANDF Operation Corona border protection tasking – still standing at 15 “sub-units”, mostly infantry companies, deployed along the 4 470 km plus land border.

Exact numbers of soldiers from the regular and reserve components as well as other SA Army formations deployed to protect border integrity are not known. In this regard African Defence Review Director Darren Olivier estimates the current 15 “sub-units” amount to between 2 300 and 2 500 soldiers deployed at any one time, working on the basis of 160 in an infantry rifle company.

Against this is the BMA, which a Parliamentarian said earlier this year has 673 “border law enforcement officers” on its total personnel strength of 2 606, including 400 newly appointed junior border guards. When fully staffed the BMA is mooted to have over 11 000 personnel.

Indications are around four thousand plus of these could come from the SA Police Service (SAPS) which, according to Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament (MP) Adrian Roos, are already assigned duties at air, land and sea ports of entry. They, like some Department of Home Affairs (DHA) officials, are set to move onto BMA personnel strength sooner rather than later in the wake of a meeting between now suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, replaced by Firoz Cachalia on 1 August, and the Home Affairs Ministry incumbent, Leon Schreiber. At the beginning of May, authorisation was given for the transfer to the BMA of police and Department of Home Affairs officials carrying out border functions.

As it presently stands the entity specifically tasked with border protection has the least number of border guards confined to 10 km on either side of land ports of entry, with the SA Army having around 2 300 soldiers on the ground doing the hard yards in often unhospitable terrain ranging from thick bush to desolated semi-desert and mountains. The most recent example of the dangers faced by soldiers on border protection was the apparently trampling to death of a soldier by an elephant in the Madimbo area of operations.

The South African Police Service remains at present a contributor to border security with officers based at air, land and sea ports of entry. There are about 4 400 police officers assigned to border control and protection duties.

In a joint presentation to Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on 18 July, the BMA said the main risk it faces is limited capacity, which hampers its ability to effectively fulfil its mandate. This has been worsened by the lack of additional funding allocated to the entity, leaving it unable to recruit much-needed human resources or invest in technology that could alleviate pressure on existing staff. Moving forward, the BMA will prioritise filling critical positions, and is requesting additional funds through the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA).

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“In the past week, these crime-fighting initiatives and tracking operations saw police apprehending 2 626 wanted suspects for serious and violent crimes including murder, attempted murder, rape, car-hijackings, sexual offences, house and business robberies.

“In addition, a total of 1 013 suspects were arrested for illegal liquor trade as well as 771 suspects for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including confiscating 25 117 litres of alcohol,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement.

The police recorded the following arrests:

146 suspects were arrested for murder. KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of arrests with 46, followed by the Western Cape with 22, Mpumalanga with 19, and then the Eastern Cape with 17.
141 suspects were arrested for rape, with the majority of arrests in Gauteng at 30.
131 suspects were arrested for attempted murder across multiple provinces.
1 580 suspects arrested for assault GBH.
2 978 suspects arrested for possession of drugs, with the Western Cape recording the highest number of arrests with 1 708, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 360, Gauteng 287, and then the Eastern Cape with 279.
279 suspects for dealing in drugs for the past week.
82 suspects were apprehended for illegal possession of unlicensed firearms.
417 for possession of dangerous weapons.
27 arrested for human trafficking.

The following major seizures and recoveries were recorded in the same period: 1 709 rounds of ammunition; 128 unlicensed firearms; 1 916 dangerous weapons; contraband goods worth more than R20 million and 65 stolen and hijacked vehicles were recovered.

Two Mozambican foreign nationals were arrested after police recovered two firearms stolen from officers who were shot and killed in Ivory Park on 01 December 2025. Seizures included the SAPS-issued R5 rifle and one pistol, and police investigation is ongoing.

Two bodyguards, aged 24 and 36 years old, were arrested outside the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court for possession of a semi-automatic AKM rifles and ammunition. A vehicle, rifles, and ammunition were seized.

In the Western Cape, police uncovered an illicit alcohol manufacturing plant in Lansdowne and arrested two suspects aged between 26 and 39 years old. They were arrested for the illegal manufacturing and distributing liquor. Seizures included manufacturing equipment, an assortment of alcohol branding stickers, and unknown liquids.

Still in Western Cape, members of the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Narcotics Unit intercepted a truck on the N12 en route from Johannesburg to George carrying drugs. A box containing cocaine worth R3.6 million was seized and arrested a 46-year-old suspect for dealing in cocaine.

In Mpumalanga, police acting on intelligence intercepted a truck pulling two trailers with 12 water tanks with 5000-litre capacity packed with cartons of illicit cigarettes.

The seized consignment consisted of 25 pallets of illicit cigarettes worth R17.4 million. A 43-year-old foreign national from the Kingdom of Eswatini was arrested after the discovery of illicit cigarettes hidden inside water tanks in Sundra on 05 December 2025.

Also in Mpumalanga, two Zimbabwean foreign nationals were arrested for dealing in dagga. This is after police intercepted a truck on the N2 Road from Empangeni en route to Zimbabwe and discovered six big bags of compressed dagga to the value of R1.2 million on 04 December 2025.

In the Northern Cape on 04 December 2025, police intercepted a vehicle allegedly transporting a rhino horn on the N14 and arrested three suspected rhino poachers, aged between 42 and 48 years. Seizures included a rhino horn, a pistol, and ammunition.

In KwaZulu-Natal, an intelligence-driven operation conducted at Oshayanyawo, Ekombe led to the arrest of a 49-year-old suspect for possession of unlicensed firearms. They seized an AK47 assault rifle with three rounds of ammunition, an HMC pistol with 14 rounds of ammunition, as well as a shotgun with 13 rounds of ammunition.

In a separate operation, three suspects aged between 50 and 61 years were arrested at Makhasaneni for unlawful possession of firearms on 02 December 2025. During the operation, police recovered five homemade firearms, one homemade shotgun, one 38 special revolver, one pistol and ammunition.

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According to the latest SAPS crime statistics for Q3 2024/25 (1 October–31 December 2024), women in South Africa experienced: 961 murders – that’s 11 women killed every day 11,803 rapes – more than 131 per day, or 5 every hour 16,023 cases of assault GBH – 45 women seriously assaulted every day.

And these are only the reported cases. Thousands more remain invisible—buried in silence, fear, or distrust of a system that too often fails them.

By comparison, terrorism kills around 1,667 people per month globally. South African women alone face nearly 12,000 violent attacks every month—yet we see no comparable public outrage or mobilisation. If foreign terrorists murdered and raped women at this scale, there would be a national shutdown. Troops in the streets. Special task teams. A presidential address. Instead, we get press conferences and broken promises.

Yes, South Africa does have Sexual Offences Courts—originally reintroduced in 2013 to offer a more supportive environment for survivors. But: There are just over 100 courts for the entire country—far below what’s needed. Many are under-resourced, inconsistently staffed, or not fully operational SOC’s are not backed by permanent legislation, which limits their stability and expansion. Rural and high-crime areas often have no access to these specialised courts at all

In short: the idea exists—but the implementation is too limited, too slow, and too fragile. Forensic backlogs are growing. Cases drag on for years. Survivors face retraumatisation in court. And far too many perpetrators go free. South African women are terrorised daily—with little hope of justice. We cannot continue to describe this crisis with soft language. It is time to act.

Action Society is calling for:

Violence against women to be declared a national disaster.
Urgent investment in Public-Private Partnerships to strengthen investigative and forensic capacity
The expansion and permanent legislation of Sexual Offences Courts—ensuring access in every district
Better-trained prosecutors and magistrates to prioritise gender-based violence Enforcement of mandatory minimum sentences and the closure of legal loopholes
This is not a women’s issue. It’s a national emergency. Raise your voice. Share this message. Demand accountability. Contribute to Action Society to support our campaign for safety, justice, and reform. Because silence protects the predator—not the victim.

Juanita du Preez is Action Society Spokesperson

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“We’ve had another incredibly busy year here at SVI. We not only launched our groundbreaking new SVI LITE partial-armouring solution and commenced sales of our 12-seater MAX SWAT but also developed bespoke new B4 discreet and B6 discreet packages for several models,” said SVI Business Development Director, Nicol Louw.

So, which nameplates were the most popular for armouring at SVI in 2025? Well, it’s interesting to note all models in the top 5 employ a robust ladder-frame platform, a configuration well suited to carrying the added weight of armouring components (particularly when it comes to full B6 protection). Furthermore, while the podium places are occupied by bakkies, SUVs take the final two positions.

1. Toyota Hilux – 90 units armoured

Considering it remains South Africa’s best-selling vehicle, the Toyota Hilux predictably takes the top spot, with as many as 90 units having been fitted with SVI armour in 2025. Equipped with the company’s Stopgun V2.0 package, the locally built bakkie is the default choice in SA’s security industry.

Additionally, the Stopgun V2.0 kit for specific versions of the Hilux single cab is fully approved by the Japanese brand, thanks to SVI’s status as an authorised converter in Toyota’s commercial-vehicle partner programme. However, the double-cab version is also a popular option among civilians who require B4 (handgun protection, up to .44 Magnum) and B6 (protecting against assault rifles, including AK47, R1 and R5) discreet armour.

2. FORD RANGER – 29 units armoured

The local market’s second most popular bakkie also takes the runner-up position on this list. Over the course of 2025, the Bashewa-based company has armoured 29 examples of the Ford Ranger, all of which retained their vehicle warranty (and any selected service or maintenance plans) thanks to SVI’s approval under the Ford Pro Convertor programme (previously known as the Qualified Vehicle Modifiers initiative).

Fascinatingly, the Thailand-sourced Raptor was easily the most popular Ranger derivative, accounting for 21 of the 29 units armoured (with locally built Ranger variants making up the balance). As recently as September 2025, SVI announced a new B6 discreet armouring option for the V6-powered Raptor, launching it as SA’s first Ford-approved assault-rifle protection package for this high-performance derivative.

3. Volkswagen Amarok – 22 units armoured

Since several other bakkies outsell the second-generation Volkswagen Amarok on the local new-vehicle market, it may surprise some that the German firm’s contender makes it onto the podium here. However, the latest Amarok – just like the original version – has fast become a favourite among SVI customers, with as many as 22 units armoured in 2025.

Since the Amarok shares its platform with the Ranger (and is indeed built by Ford alongside this model at the Blue Oval brand’s Silverton facility in Gauteng), SVI’s engineers were able to apply their knowledge of Ford’s bakkie to develop the required armouring packages for the VW version.

4. Ford Everest – 11 units armoured

The most popular SUV for armouring at SVI in 2025 was the Ford Everest. In the end, 11 units of this Thai-built model moved through the company’s armouring facility during the year, with both B4 discreet and B6 discreet packages applied.

As with the closely related Ranger bakkie, SVI’s approval under the Ford Pro Convertor programme means an Everest converted by the armouring company (including with SVI LITE partial armour) retains its full warranty as well as any selected service or maintenance plans.

5. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado – 7 units armoured

The model that closes out the top 5 is the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. Like the previous-generation Prado, this latest J250-series model is an ideal candidate for both B4 discreet and B6 discreet armour, with 7 units having been converted by SVI in 2025.

SVI launched bespoke B4 and B6 protection packages for the new Prado – a model that remains in short supply on the local new-vehicle market, with customers continuing to face lengthy waiting lists – in the first quarter of the year. Should supply to South Africa improve, there’s every chance this model will climb the list in 2026.

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Briefing the media on festive season law enforcement plans for 2025/26, Masiapato said BMA immigration officers processed 9 283 658 travellers in the second quarter of the current financial year – a 23% jump from the 7 576 650 movements recorded in the same period last year.

He said the uptick in movements coincides with strengthened border enforcement supported by surveillance technology, especially drones. During the quarter, 8 135 apprehensions were recorded across ports of entry and vulnerable segments: 4 092 undocumented individuals, 2 061 inadmissible travellers, and 1 982 undesirables.

“The majority of the intercepted foreign nationals were Basotho, followed by Mozambicans, Zimbabweans and Swati nationals, reflecting a consistent long-standing migration pattern within the sub-region,” Masiapato said.

Masiapato added that since the Border Guards were first deployed in July 2022, officers have stopped about 505 065 individuals from entering the country illegally.

Interceptions during the quarter also included 15 high-powered suspected stolen vehicles, believed to have been targeted by criminal syndicates for smuggling out of South Africa. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has taken over further processing.

“The incremental figure stands at about 349 vehicles since the deployment of the first contingent in July 2022,” Masiapato said.

BMA officers also seized 1 700 kg of counterfeit clothing and footwear valued at R1.28 million, bringing the cumulative value of counterfeit goods intercepted since July 2022 to about R220 million.

Additional seizures included half a kilogram of crystal meth, 240 grams of heroin, illicit cigarettes valued at R827 500, and 40 fraudulent travel documents confiscated mainly at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) and Vioolsdrift.

Port health operations screened 172 858 travellers, with 73 refused entry for failing to present valid yellow fever vaccination certificates. Officials processed 997 mortal remains — 964 exports and 33 imports — and returned 25 due to incomplete documentation.

Masiapato said port health teams also handled 43 729 health-related consignments, while intercepting and destroying 5 000 units of illicit birth control pills and 117 medical test kits, including skin lightening creams.

“In this regard, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has warned that many of these products contain harmful and illegal ingredients, including high concentrations of mercury, hydroquinone and tropical steroids, which pose serious health risks,” he said.

Health teams tested 969 travellers for malaria, confirming 57 positive cases, who were transferred to medical facilities. In the agricultural stream, 39 316 consignments were processed.

Boosting port security

Masiapato also announced a key operational development. The BMA, in partnership with Transnet National Ports Authority, has secured permanent operational space for Coastal Guards at the ports of Mossel Bay, Gqeberha, Richards Bay and East London.

“This is a critical development towards establishing BMA’s full-time presence in these important seaports,” he said.

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