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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPeople visiting Cape Town are being warned that syndicates are targeting people travelling to Cape Town International Airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a recent parliament Q&A, IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe questioned why there is so little visible policing around Cape Town International Airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is despite the surge in cases where criminals target motorists, both tourists and locals, at intersections and traffic lights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response, the minister of police said the border policing team is tasked with policing the airport precinct itself, but many of the reported crimes actually occur just outside its jurisdiction, particularly in the Nyanga area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He explained that while these incidents may be reported at the airport, the cases are referred to the Nyanga police as the crimes happened closer to that jurisdiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regardless of the distinction, to address growing concerns, the minister confirmed that Nyanga police and the City of Cape Town have been instructed to establish static deployments in identified hotspots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite these assurances, crime around the airport has clearly been escalating. 42 incidents were reported at Cape Town International between 1 April and 31 March this year alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More disturbing cases have also made headlines. This includes a woman who was seriously injured when a concrete block was thrown at her vehicle while she drove along the N2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An American tourist was robbed and shot while travelling from the airport to Simon\u2019s Town, and an elderly German couple was robbed while driving along Baden Powell Drive near Wolfgat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Local councillors, including FF Plus\u2019s Emre Uygun, have urged authorities to take stronger action to prevent such attacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They warned that the violence threatens not only residents but also Cape Town\u2019s reputation as a tourist destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The problem is part of a wider trend across the country. The latest crime statistics from the South African Police Service (SAPS) show that 19,032 \u201ctheft out of or from motor vehicle\u201d cases were reported in just the last quarter of the 2024\/2025 period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This works out to around 211 incidents every day between January and March 2025. Gauteng recorded the highest number of cases at 5,307, followed closely by the Western Cape with 4,978, and KwaZulu-Natal with 2,775.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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