On 15 April 2025, a joint law enforcement operation led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) resulted in the safe rescue of a 45-year-old American citizen, reportedly working in the area as a pastor, who was kidnapped and held at a safe house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha.

Acting on verified intelligence, a co-ordinated team comprising the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, the Anti-Gang Unit, Crime Intelligence, the Tactical Response Team, and others, moved swiftly to raid the premises. The suspects, upon noticing the officers approaching the house, attempted to flee and opened fire on the officers, triggering a high-intensity shootout. Three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded during the subsequent exchange.

The kidnapped victim was found inside a vehicle on the premises and, despite the shootout, was unharmed; reportedly in good health after an assessment by medical personnel at the scene.

Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Eastern Cape, praised the courage, precision, and professionalism of the operational team, as well as the support shown by senior government officials. “This operation sends a strong message to those who threaten the safety and sovereignty of our nation,” he said.

In a separate incident in Gauteng, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Anti-Kidnapping Task Team successfully rescued two businessmen just hours after they were hijacked and kidnapped in Midrand. The victims were abducted by a group of criminals driving a silver Hyundai i10 at a car rental business. They were taken to a remote area along the R21, where they were forced to hand over their bank cards and PINs, which allowed the kidnappers to withdraw large sums from their accounts.

Alerted to the crime, a multi-disciplinary task team was swiftly mobilised. The victims were located in dense bush and rescued, and their hijacked SUV was later recovered in Tembisa. The SAPS praised the co-ordinated efforts of multiple units including the National Crime Intelligence Counter and Security Team, Police Emergency Services, the SAPS Flying Squad, Gauteng Traffic Police Airwing, and Vision Tactical Security.

A manhunt is currently underway for the suspects who evaded arrest. Authorities believe they are continuing to operate using the same Hyundai i10.

SAPS sought to reassure the public, and stated both operations underscore their message,  that South Africa possesses the expertise and resources to respond effectively to the rising threat of kidnappings.

Authorities further urged citizens to remain vigilant, be aware of their surroundings, and report any suspicious activity without delay.

The post Kidnapping victims rescued in separate “high-stakes operations” appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

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.

But who is most at risk? And in what circumstances do kidnappings occur?

Kidnapping in South Africa has risen by 264% over the last decade, primarily linked to armed robberies

The SAPS Crime Registrar’s office has helped somewhat to answer these questions. They analyse the ‘causative factors’ for kidnappings in each province. Their analysis for the 2023/24 financial year shows that most cases were perpetrated during aggravated robberies, such as car or truck hijackings or armed robberies at businesses, homes, or in public spaces.

These often take the form of ‘express kidnappings’ where victims are kept for a few hours or days to facilitate the theft of their funds, usually held by banks. The victim is held hostage so they can be coerced into drawing money from ATMs or transferring their funds into accounts controlled by the criminals through mobile banking applications.

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.

Of the 14 646 (86%) cases sampled from the 17 061 kidnappings reported to police, motives could be established in 91% of cases analysed. Aggravated robberies accounted for 66% of all kidnappings, with 44% committed during a hijacking and 22% during another type of robbery.

A further 10% are committed with the intention to perpetrate a sexual assault or rape. Seven percent are associated with retaliation or revenge attacks, often by gangs or rival groups. Kidnapping linked to ransom made about 4%, slightly up from previous periods. Kidnapping for extortion or human trafficking comprised less than 1% of the total.

Gauteng accounts for over 50% of all reported kidnappings, underscoring the province’s high risk

The reason Gauteng recorded the most kidnappings is that it also recorded the highest number of carjackings (49.5% of all hijackings recorded countrywide). Moreover, Gauteng holds 36% of all armed robberies recorded countrywide.

It seems kidnapping has become a key tactic in armed robberies and carjackings. Criminals in this province are more likely to use express kidnappings, as nearly 80% of kidnappings in Gauteng are linked to a hijacking (60%) or another type of robbery (19%).

Robbery-related kidnappings make up the lion’s share of cases in Mpumalanga (63%), KwaZulu-Natal (55%), and North West (55%). In other provinces, robberies contribute between 27% (Limpopo) and 47% (Western Cape) (see chart below).

The 2023/24 annual crime statistics revealed a continued increase in aggravated robbery, though at a slightly lower rate (2.9%) compared to the 10% increase the previous year. Carjacking stabilised with 22 735 cases or 63 cases a day. This amounts to a 78% increase in the past decade. Similarly, 1 976 truck hijackings were recorded – a marginal decline of 19 cases compared to the previous year, but still representing a 54.5% increase over a decade.

The 1 April to 30 September stats showed drops in most violent crime categories, with only serious assaults and attempted murders showing slight increases. Unfortunately, kidnapping is the one exception, with a further 7.6% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This means existing policing approaches are not having an impact on kidnapping despite the well-documented successes of provincial kidnapping task teams for ransom-driven cases.

However, to bring the overall levels of kidnappings down, the SAPS will have to focus on addressing aggravated robberies. As this crime is also behind many murders and attempted murders, getting on top of those who are involved or profit off of aggravated robberies would generally improve overall public safety and fear of crime.

Robberies are committed by relatively few people and can be reduced relatively quickly with focused intelligence-led policing supported by dedicated investigation units and forensics. The Gauteng Aggravated Robbery Strategy implemented from 2009-11 reduced hijackings by 32%, home robberies by 20%, and business robberies by 19% in that period.

Targeted, intelligence-driven policing is key to addressing the rise in kidnapping and aggravated robberies

While politically popular, SAPS high-density and resource-intensive operations such as Operation Shanela are not having the necessary impact on crime. An intelligence-led, focused aggravated robbery strategy that is part of a comprehensive organised crime strategy could guide all law enforcement agencies in the country to play a role.

Such a strategy requires a measurable implementation plan, resources, and a coordinating mechanism. Key organisational and systemic reforms such as those recommended previously by the Institute for Security Studies will be required for such a strategy to work.

Any strategy should focus on identifying and disrupting the individuals, groups, and networks benefitting from armed robberies. Such a strategy should incorporate a focus on tackling firearm crime, as most robberies involve using firearms.

Importantly, SAPS Crime Intelligence must be completely overhauled and corrupt elements removed. And it would need to be subject to much greater levels of accountability from Parliament, the offices of the Inspector-General for Intelligence (which must also be strengthened), and other agencies such as the Auditor-General.

This article has been republished with permission from ISS Today. The original article can be found here.

The post South Africa’s armed robbery problem drives kidnapping appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

The SAPS indicated it had been observing his movements and links to a kidnapping syndicate operating in Johannesburg. The suspect has specifically been linked to the kidnapping of a 63-year-old businessman kidnapped in Helderkruin, Roodepoort, in July. The victim was rescued on the same day, with the SAPS discovering R300 million worth of crystal meth during the same operation, at two properties in Fourways and a hotel in Bruma.

It is alleged that the suspect is linked to the drugs that were seized, and he is expected to be charged alongside eight other suspects arrested for the kidnapping and the drugs recovered.

The suspect was arrested by a multidisciplinary team led by the SAPS anti-kidnapping task team, counterintelligence, detective services, JMPD K-9 unit, Flying Squad and private security.

The post SAPS apprehend kidnapping ringleader at OR Tambo appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

Over the previous two years, over 250 kidnappers “of various nationalities” were arrested, with over 20 businessmen rescued. Additionally, six students were also rescued.

These figures were given by Masemola at a media briefing in Johannesburg on 1 August. Days later, on Sunday 4 August, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Special Task Force (STF) announced it had rescued 90 undocumented Ethiopian nationals held against their will, under inhumane conditions in Sunnydale Ridge, Johannesburg.

A multi-unit task force lead by the STF were tracing a victim of kidnapping for ransom. Upon raiding the residence, officers discovered the undocumented nationals locked up and confined to several rooms. The case is currently being investigated with allegations of human trafficking.

Amongst the Ethiopian nationals, the missing kidnapping victim was discovered and rescued. The victim was kidnapped in Benoni on Tuesday 30 July, with his captors immediately demanding a ransom from his family.

The 90 Ethiopian nationals were transported to a nearby hospital for medical care.

Two alleged human traffickers were arrested at the scene. Police have indicated the suspects are likely to be charged with kidnapping and human trafficking and will appear before the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court. The case has been handed over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) for further investigations.

For World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on 30 July, the Department of Social Development (DSD) cited a June 2023 publication by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) report that a possible 250 000 people have fallen victim to human trafficking in South Africa alone.

In an interview with the SABC on Monday 5 August, the National Commissioner noted police were allegedly initiating a hostage rescue and “stumbled” across the Ethiopian nationals. The Commissioner further noted that incidents where large groups of people are held captive have “been happening quite some time.”

Last week, the Hawks rescued a Gqerberha businessman, and investigations into his kidnappers are continuing. Two weeks ago, fourteen suspects including three Chinese nationals, two Mozambicans and nine South Africans were arrested in various parts of Johannesburg, and in this case a Zimbabwean businessman was rescued in Diepkloof Soweto.

Police stated the latest operation that rescued the Ethiopian nationals would not have been successful without the work of crime intelligence, organised crime detectives, Sandringham and Daveyton SAPS and private security.

How Crime Intelligence was able to detect and monitor one group, while being completely unaware of another group being trafficked in Johannesburg, leaves some concerned with CI’s ability to address the growth of organised criminal syndicates operating in South Africa.

Kidnapping cases have been increasingly rapidly in South Africa, with 15 343 recorded kidnapping cases in South Africa as reported by Statistics SA for the 2022/23 financial year. Gauteng had the highest incidences of kidnapping, with 7 818 reported, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 3 081 cases of kidnapping in the same period. This sudden increase is associated with the rising levels of organised violent crime in the country.

Masemola last week said the recent increase in kidnappings is due to various motives, “such as car hijacking, rape. The rise of these kidnappings is a concern, and police are upscaling their efforts in heightening police visibility and tracing wanted suspects in this regard.”

Kidnapping instances where ransom is the motive has seen “dedicated teams in each province [be] able to register commendable progress in rescuing victims and taking down these syndicates.”

“We have full confidence in the capabilities of these multidisciplinary teams that include counterintelligence, and various specialized units within the SAPS,” Masemola said.

The post Police upscaling efforts to tackle kidnappings appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

General Masemola held a media briefing on Thursday, 01 August 2024, giving an update on the work of the South African Police Service. He said high-density operations have been conducted in each province, with their respective Provincial Commissioners “actively taking part and leading operations on the ground.” This has resulted in the arrest of 766 237 suspects. These suspects were arrested for various crimes including 161 752 wanted suspects apprehended for “priority crimes” which include murder, Cash-in-Transit armed robberies, rape, hi-jacking and firearm related offences.

“We have established and beefed up cash-in-transit task teams, particularly in the Eastern Cape, where a number of them have been recorded in the month of July. In the past month alone, 13 cash in transit robbers were arrested in the province while six suspects were fatally wounded during confrontation with police,” General Masemola said.

The police have also registered a breakthrough with the arrest of at least ten suspects linked to ATM bombings in Gauteng. Eight of the suspects were intercepted in Katlehong, Thokoza, and Soweto in Gauteng while another two were traced to Senekal in the Free State.

“These arrests were effected with the assistance of our partners in the banking sector and key stakeholders in the fight against crime. These suspects are being linked to more than 20 ATM bombings that took place in Soweto and the East Rand,” he said.

Drug busts

Intelligence-led operations have resulted in several successful drug busts, with the Commissioner noting “police are intercepting large quantities and consignments of drugs.”

“In a recent success this week, a drug mule was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday morning as he arrived from Brazil. Police were following up on information that the 38- year-old Brazilian national was on an identified flight and was carrying drugs. As soon as the identified aircraft landed, police swooped in and searched the aircraft where they found cocaine worth R1 million in the toilet of the aircraft. The man is expected to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on a charge of drug trafficking.”

The recent high-profile raid of a “clandestine drug lab worth R2 billion” in Limpopo resulted in 5 arrests, including of three Mexican nationals. The Western Cape saw R252 million worth of cocaine seized through a roadblock in Stillbaai. Among the two suspects arrested was a Russian. SAPS also seized R40 million worth of cannabis (dagga) in the Magaliesburg in Gauteng.

R4 million worth of cocaine and R4 million worth of Crystal meth was seized in different parts of Mpumalanga, including Nelspruit and Komatipoort.

R2 billion worth of drugs have been destroyed in the previous twelve months. This includes cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and unregistered medicines. Operation Shanela has netted 21 161 criminals for dealing drugs, with 64 351 were arrested for possession of drugs.

Gang violence

Ongoing gang-related violence in the Eastern and Western Cape and Gauteng continues to receive priority with the deployment of the Anti Gang Unit and specialised units in identified hotspots, General Masemola said.

“Dedicated interventions are continuing and several gang leaders and members have been arrested in the past six months. These include 64 gang members arrested in Westbury. Thirty-four of them belong to the Fast gang group that were operating in Westbury, Langlaagte and Eldorado Park. During this period, 36 gang members from the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal and Limpopo were convicted to a collective 350 year’s imprisonment,” he said.

Police visibility

The National Commissioner emphasised that heightening and enhancing police visibility as a form of a deterrent to crime is at the top of the SAPS agenda.

“Our ears remain on the ground, and we are well aware that our communities want to see more police officers on the ground. This is why we have recruited and trained 20 000 police officers in two years, who are already serving and protecting communities at grassroots level of policing.

“All these members have capacitated our police stations and various specialised units, including crime intelligence and the detective environment, where capacity is much needed,” he said.

Masemola announced that there are currently 4 500 recruits in training and the remaining 5 500 recruits will commence with training in January 2025.

“Through collaboration with key stakeholders in the fight against crime which includes various government departments and entities, it is our collaboration with private security as our eyes and ears on the ground that is proving to be effective and beneficial. Through our E2 project with private security, we have been able to share resources and intercept criminals jointly, through working together,” he said.

In the last seven days, 106 firearms were confiscated during operations across the country. Forty of these firearms were seized in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Of the 106 firearms, 90 are hand guns, eight are homemade firearms, seven are rifles while one shotgun was seized.

In two years, more than 20 000 firearms have been seized from all corners of the country.

“In the Western Cape where we experience a lot of firearm related gang violence, 3 100 firearms have been confiscated to date while in Gauteng, 673 firearms have been seized during tracing operations during a 12 month period,” he said.

In closing, General Masemola sought to reassure communities SAPS would continue to intensify crime combatting efforts, while calling for communities “to play their part by reporting suspicious activities.” The “message is clear to criminals… Either you hand yourself over to us and lessen our work of tracing you, or we come for you. We will not back down in protecting our communities.”

The post Huge Level of Recent SAPS Activity Yields “Positive Results” – Masemola appeared first on ProtectionWeb.