Warning for couriers and deliveries in South Africa
As the e-commerce sector grows in South Africa, so too does the target on the backs of courier vehicles as criminals target their valuable cargo and the vehicles themselves.
South Africa’s freight and logistics market, estimated at R435 billion in 2024 and expected to grow to R581 billion by 2029, is a key contributor to the country’s economy.
However, this vital sector is under increasing threat from rising incidents of transport-related crimes, particularly fleet vehicle hijackings and cargo theft.
The uptick in criminal activities is causing concern among businesses, law enforcement, and logistics operators.
Tracker’s data indicates that vehicle hijackings now account for 55% of all national vehicle crime incidents, outpacing thefts, which stand at 45%.
Business-owned vehicles are particularly vulnerable, with a 64% likelihood of being hijacked compared to 36% for theft.
This makes business-owned vehicles nearly twice as likely to be hijacked as private vehicles.
The concentration of these crimes is particularly high in Gauteng, South Africa’s economic heartland, which accounts for 56% of all business vehicle-related crimes.
KwaZulu-Natal follows with 14%, and the Western Cape with 13%.
Gauteng’s over-representation in the crime statistics, according to Tracker, reflects a 17% higher rate of crime relative to its vehicle subscription base, making it a dangerous region for businesses reliant on logistics.
Tracker also flagged known hotspots for delivery vehicle hijackings, which include the N12, R24/R21, R23, and N3 corridors.
Delivery vehicles have become prime targets due to their cargo, with criminals seizing fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) such as alcohol, groceries, clothing, and electronics.
Experts like Wahl Bartmann, CEO of Fidelity Services Group, note that “the growth of eCommerce and home deliveries has unfortunately made delivery vehicles more attractive targets.”
Bartmann explains that criminal syndicates operate in an organized and premeditated manner, often kidnapping drivers to disable tracking devices and buy time before authorities are notified.
A real-life example of this warning occurred in July when two employees of a courier company were hijacked and kidnapped in Sunridge Park Drive in Gqeberha.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge says the driver and his assistant were doing deliveries with a Ford Transit vehicle when four armed men in a blue Polo forced them to stop.
The employees were found unharmed, but the hijacked vehicle was later found emptied and burnt out at a nearby Location.
Notably, KwaZulu-Natal has seen a rise in vehicle hijackings, with a 64:36 hijacking-to-theft ratio.
Meanwhile, in the Western Cape, 82% of business vehicle crimes involve hijackings, making it almost five times more likely for a vehicle to be hijacked than stolen.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) crime report from the first half of 2024 aligns with Tracker’s data, highlighting Gauteng as the province most affected by hijackings, with 5,163 cases recorded.
This represents 48% of all hijackings nationwide. The Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal also report significant numbers, with 1,613 and 1,512 hijackings, respectively.
Moreover, bakkies and panel vans—common vehicles used for deliveries—are the second most targeted vehicle type after hatchbacks, with 19 stolen every day.
These vehicles are often used for courier services, making them even more vulnerable to hijacking
Experts agree that stronger collaboration between businesses, security firms, and law enforcement is needed to combat this growing threat.
As the logistics sector continues to grow, without decisive action, the rise in delivery vehicle hijackings and theft could have long-term consequences for South Africa’s economy and the safety of its roads.
Below are the top hijacking hotspots across the most populated provinces for the most recent quarter (April to June).
Gauteng:
- Orange Farms
- Ivory Park
- Eldorado Park
- Pretoria West
- Germiston
Kwa-Zulu Natal:
- Newlands East
- Umlazi
Western Cape:
- Nyanga
- Harare
- Philippi East
- Delft
- Khayelitsha
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