The Eastern Cape Transport Department has condemned the targeting of state vehicles by thieves and hijackers.
At least nine government-owned vehicles have been stolen in the province during the first seven weeks of 2025.
In 2024, a total of 55 were targeted by criminals just within the Eastern Cape, 48 of which were hijacked.
“These 55 that was stolen in a 52-week period of between January and December 2024 were in the Eastern Cape alone, that means that is an average of one vehicle either being hijacked or stolen in the province [a week], and that is very, very disturbing,” Unathi Binqose, spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Transport Department, told eNCA.
The majority of the incidents took place in the OR Tambo District around Libode, Mthatha, Ngcobo, Ngqeleni, and Qumbu.
The targeted cars included Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max bakkies, which form the bulk of the EC government fleet, as well as minibus taxis.
The EC authorities have managed to recover 26 of the 55 stolen vehicles, with the remainder still being unaccounted for.
“When I engaged further with the colleagues from the Government Fleet Management Services, they were telling me that even this year alone, there are nine state vehicles that have been stolen,” said Binqose.
“This year is only six, seven weeks old and already we’ve lost nine, meaning that the trend of one vehicle being stolen a week continues, and it’s something that we need to stand up against.”
Eastern Cape Premier declares war
In his annual State of the Province Address, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane noted that government officials are now scared to travel to the areas where many of these state vehicles were thieved.
Additionally, he said that the continued targeting of state vehicles is affecting service delivery in the province.
Mabuyane called on law enforcement to act decisively against the crime and to ensure that all perpetrators are brought to book.
“We are grateful that the Premier of the province has also called this out and condemned it,” said Binqose.
“It made it into his State of the Province Address, so it shows that is something that we are now beginning to pay a bit more attention to.”
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