1. Eastern Cape leads the decline
Among the provinces, the Eastern Cape recorded the steepest reduction with hijackings falling by almost 31% year-on-year.
MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert expands: “With such a significant drop, it is worth investigating the targeted efforts undertaken by authorities in the region.
“Elsewhere, provinces like Mpumalanga (-20.5%), Western Cape (-16.9%), Limpopo (-18%) and KwaZulu-Natal (-10.7%) also saw a decline. The cause of the decreases should be identified to determine if it is due to changing crime patterns or targeted efforts from authorities,” says Herbert.
2. Largest increases
North West province increased by 8.3%.
“Though it is relatively small in comparison to the decreases, it highlights that crime is not uniformly declining. Risk zones may be emerging, requiring focused policing,” says Herbert.
3. Down, but still high
On the surface, an 8.1% drop in carjackings is positive. “Yet 4 420 vehicles were still hijacked during the quarter. This means an average of nearly 48 cars were carjacked each day.
“Additionally, crime statistics only reflect reported incidents. Victim of Crime Surveys (VOCS) estimate a significant share of hijackings are unreported. The survey suggests the real figure is 23% higher than reported figures making the real risk much higher,” says Herbert.
4. Gauteng dominates
Despite a slight decline of about 0.9%, Gauteng remains the hijacking hotspot.
“With 2 544 reported cases, it is the province with the most hijackings and accounts for more than half of all carjackings combined.
“Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal trail behind and still underscore the national scale of the problem,” says Herbert.
5. What motorists should know
These statistics reinforce the need for constant vigilance. “While increased police presence is one perspective, vigilance and knowledge are essential to protect oneself as far as possible,” says Herbert.
Always remember the following:
- Remain vigilant, especially in unfamiliar or high-risk areas;
- watch out for vehicles following you or suspicious groups of people at the roadside;
- vary routes and schedules;
- keep doors locked and windows up, particularly at traffic lights or in slow-moving traffic;
- reverse your car into parking spots to quickly escape in dangerous situations;
- park parallel to your house and be ready to leave suddenly;
- anticipate traffic light changes;
- watch your blind spot as criminals often stand in these; and
- always have an escape route.
If a hijacking is unavoidable:
- Do not resist or argue – your life is worth more than any vehicle;
- avoid sudden movements that could be misinterpreted; and
- immediately report the incident to the police.
