The big 5 consumers of cars hijacked or stolen in South Africa
Criminal syndicates in Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and local chop shops are the big five consumers of stolen South African vehicles.
These organised groups feed off a high demand for affordable vehicles and parts, both locally and abroad.
Recent crime statistics highlight the severity of this issue, with an alarming 60 hijackings and 96 vehicle thefts occurring daily in South Africa.
This rampant theft often sees stolen cars either dismantled for parts at local chop shops or smuggled across the border to neighbouring countries.
The growing rate of vehicle theft in South Africa is closely tied to economic pressures on vehicle owners.
According to Fidelity Services Group, many car owners in South Africa are unable to afford parts directly from the original equipment manufacturers (OEM), which have become increasingly expensive.
As a result, they turn to more affordable, often illegitimate sources for repairs.
Although most people are not intentionally seeking stolen parts, the need for cheaper alternatives inadvertently supports criminal networks that supply parts through chop shops and stolen vehicles.
Certain vehicle models, such as the Toyota Fortuner and Hilux, are frequent targets due to the high demand for their reliable turbo-diesel engines and accompanying parts.
Fidelity also noted that about 30% of all hijacked and stolen vehicles in 2023 were smuggled across South Africa’s borders, with popular models like the Toyota Corolla Cross and RAV4 being in high demand.
These vehicles, equipped to handle rugged terrain, are often smuggled into poorer African nations, where new cars are prohibitively expensive.
Once across the border, these vehicles are sold at a much lower price, making them attractive to buyers in neighbouring countries.
Vehicle tracking company Cartrack provides insight into the routes used by criminals to transport stolen cars out of the country.
Botswana-bound vehicles are typically trafficked through the Sikwane border post in the North West province, while those headed for Mozambique often pass through KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) or Mpumalanga.
In an audacious example of how far syndicates will go, a failed smuggling attempt in northern KZN revealed that criminals had constructed makeshift steel bridges to ferry vehicles over a concrete barrier separating Umkhayakude village from Mozambique.
In Mpumalanga, criminals simply drive stolen cars over the border, while in the Northern Cape, vehicles are moved through the Vioolsdrift crossing into Namibia.
Limpopo, being close to Zimbabwe, sees stolen cars dragged across the Limpopo River at low tide or transported by donkey carts.
Once these vehicles make it into Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, or Namibia, they are fitted with fake number plates and often end up in Zambia.
Zambia is a central hub for vehicle trafficking, given that it shares borders with eight countries, including Angola, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This connectivity makes it a key transit point for smuggling cars deeper into Africa.
In the first three months of 2024, law enforcement recovered 36 stolen vehicles along the Mpumalanga-Mozambique border, where smuggling is rampant despite increased security measures.
The problem of vehicle theft in South Africa is not new, but the government continues to take steps to curb it.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the Department of Transport announced in September 2024 that the construction of a solid concrete wall along the South Africa-Mozambique border would be completed by early 2025.
This barrier is intended to stem the flow of stolen vehicles and other goods crossing the border.
Initially proposed in 2018, the project has faced delays due to contractor issues and environmental concerns, as the border region contains several sensitive wetlands.
The 25-kilometre barrier is being constructed in three phases. The first phase covers an 8-kilometre stretch from Gate 6 to Tembe Elephant Park, followed by another 8-kilometre section extending west from iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
The final 9-kilometer portion will stretch from Tembe Elephant Park to the Phongolo River.
As of October 2024, approximately 7.4 kilometres of the first section have been completed, and phase one is expected to wrap up by December.
KZN MEC Siboniso Duma noted that even the partial completion of the barrier has already shown results, with a significant reduction in cross-border vehicle smuggling.
In 2023, about 30 stolen vehicles crossed into Mozambique each month, but this number has since decreased.
Authorities hope that the full completion of the wall will further reduce vehicle theft and smuggling, though the problem remains deeply entrenched in local and regional dynamics.
As South Africa grapples with this ongoing crisis, 2024’s crime statistics underscore the need for sustained efforts and cooperation to stem the tide of vehicle thefts that continue to fuel criminal enterprises across borders.
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