One major crime in South Africa on the rise – and 71% of incidents happen in your driveway

Security firm Fidelity ADT has noted with concern the rising trend of hijackings in South Africa and highlighted that most hijacking incidents still occur in the driveway, urging South Africans to remain cautious.
Referencing research published by the insurance body MiWay, Fedilty noted that the most common place where hijackings take place is at home, in the driveway.
This information, which was also compiled by Crime SA, pointed to an estimated 71% of car hijackings occurring in driveways.
Despite this concerning statistic, Tracker South Africa has also highlighted that shopping malls remain another hotspot for car theft in South Africa, while hijackers have recently been known to target sporting and schooling events.
Looking at the most targeted vehicles, Fidelity noted it remains a market of demand and supply.
According to Fidelity, hijackers target specific vehicles for a specific purpose and market. The black market demand for Toyotas, VWs, Fords, and Nissans remains high.
The South African Police Service’s (SAPS) latest data shows that South Africa has seen an increase in hijackings year-on-year, with some provinces experiencing a bigger jump in hijackings than others.
The statistics reveal that approximately 66 cars are being stolen daily in South Africa, and the most high-risk provinces are also the most populated ones.
According to the SAPS, three provinces experienced a notable year-on-year increase (>10%) in hijackings – these being the Gauteng (14.4%), the Western Cape (14%) and North West (11%).
Interestingly, Kwa-Zulu Natal saw a 17.6% decrease in carjackings, followed by the Eastern Cape (-5.2%).
In the last three months of 2023, Gauteng recorded 3,010 carjackings, which accounted for 50.4% of all carjackings in Q3 2023/24.
The Western Cape experienced 856 carjackings, while Kwa-Zulu Natal saw 834. When looking at more detailed station data, Gauteng had the highest number of hijackings per region, with Ivory Park in Ekurhuleni having the most cases.
In Johannesburg, Jabulani had the highest increase in reported cases, rising by 300% 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
“As with most things in life, it is always important to remain alert and aware when driving to and from your residence.
“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.
“Basic personal safety habits can go a long way to preventing a hijacking from happening in your driveway.
“We hope these tips can help you and your family be safe, and we suggest that you also share them with other family members or friends for when they drive to and from home,” she said.
“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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