South Africa's worst hijacking spots – and the targetted cars

South Africa has seen a slight decrease in hijackings year-on-year, but the numbers remain alarmingly high. The South African Police Service (SAPS) reported 6,009 cars hijacked over the three months, a 2.3% decline compared to 2022. However, this equates to approximately 66 cars being stolen daily in the country. Two provinces experienced a notable year-on-year increase (>10%) in hijackings: Mpumalanga (14.1%) and North West (13.5%).

The Eastern Cape saw a 15.9% decrease in carjackings, followed by the Western Cape (-8.2%) and Kwa-Zulu Natal (-7.9%). Limpopo saw a 5.1% decline in hijackings. Carjackings are most prevalent in South Africa's most populous regions, such as Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, and the Western Cape. Gauteng saw 2,984 hijackings, representing 49.7% of all carjackings in Q2 2023/24. The Western Cape has the most hijackings per region, with Harare in the province having the most cases. In Mpumalanga, Witbank has the highest reported instances, increasing 225% compared to last year.

Santam reports a shift from older, low-value vehicles with limited security requirements to more expensive double cabs and SUVs, aligning with the experiences of private security companies like Fidelity ADT. Cars under the Toyota, VW, Ford, and Nissan brands continue to be common targets among criminals, with high-value vehicles such as Toyota Prados and Toyota Landcruisers being among the most popular models for criminals. The two most high-risk provinces for vehicle hijackings and theft are Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal.