The South African Police (SAPS) has released its latest crime statistics covering the first quarter of the 2023/2024 financial year, in which it revealed that carjackings in the country have seen a welcome drop of 6.4% when compared to April to June last year.
During this time, no other type of car was targeted by criminals as much as sedans, hatchbacks, and coupes, with these body styles collectively accounting for 2,591 (47%) out of 5,522 incidents.
Bakkies were slightly less sought after by hijackers, with 1,582 (29%) of these vehicles being stolen, followed by station wagons at 335 (6%).
Minibuses sat in fourth at 280 (5%) thefts, motorbikes followed with 225 (4%), stolen trucks were recorded at 168 (3%), and panel vans at 88 (1.6%).
Finally, buses, industrial machinery, and trailers were responsible for 13 (<1%), seven (<1%), and one (<1%) thefts, respectively.
These numbers coincide with Fidelity ADT’s statistics, which said in March that Toyota is the most frequently-targeted brand for carjackers in South Africa, as well as vehicles from VW and Ford, which are all known for their best-selling bakkies and hatchbacks.
Of these brands, popular models include:
- Toyota Etios
- Toyota Fortuner
- Toyota Hilux
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Toyota Prado
- VW Polo
- Ford Ranger
The Nissan NP200 is another regularly-stolen bakkie despite the brand itself not being at the top of the criminals’ shopping lists, said Fidelity.
Top 30 hijacking hotspots
During Q1 of the 2023/2024 financial period, a total of 5,488 vehicles were stolen in South Africa, down from 5,866 the year before, with the overwhelming majority (49.8%) being reported in the country’s most populous province, Gauteng.
KwaZulu-Natal experienced the second-most carjackings at 15.2%, followed by the Western Cape with 13.6%.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Northern Cape reported the fewest carjackings at 0.2% of all cases, Free State came in second at 1.3%, with Limpopo in third registering 2.8%.
The Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and the North West then accounted for the remainder of all hijackings at 7.2%, 6.5%, and 3.4%, respectively.
Despite the Western Cape being third in the total number of hijackings, the police station that recorded the most incidents is located in this province.
According to the SAPS’ statistics, the top 30 stations where hijackings were reported are as follows:
- Harare, Western Cape – 100 reports
- Olievenhoutbosch, Gauteng – 90 reports
- Nyanga, Western Cape – 81 reports
- Philippi East, Western Cape – 78 reports
- Protea, Gauteng – 64 reports
- Moroka, Gauteng – 60 reports
- Orange Farms, Gauteng – 60 reports
- Midrand, Gauteng – 59 reports
- Tembisa, Gauteng – 56 reports
- Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal – 55 reports
- Ivory Park, Gauteng – 53 reports
- Pretoria West, Gauteng – 53 reports
- Akasia, Gauteng – 52 reports
- Lingelethu-West, Western Cape – 51 reports
- Jabulani, Gauteng – 48 reports
- Eldorado Park, Gauteng – 47 reports
- Jeppe, Gauteng – 47 reports
- Delft, Western Cape – 46 reports
- Witbank, Mpumalanga – 46 reports
- Lenasia, Gauteng – 45 reports
- Samora Machel, Western Cape – 43 reports
- Loate, Gauteng – 42 reports
- Ennerdale, Gauteng – 42 reports
- JHB Central, Gauteng – 41 reports
- Mamelodi East, Gauteng – 40 reports
- Booysens, Gauteng – 40 reports
- Khayelitsha, Western Cape – 39 reports
- Norkempark, Gauteng – 39 reports
- Lenasia South, Gauteng – 39 reports
- Bhekithemba, KwaZulu-Natal – 39 reports
Out of the top 30 stations, 20 are located in Gauteng, seven in the Western Cape, and only two in KwaZulu-Natal, with the last one located in Mpumalanga.
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