S.African Crime: Revealed: South Africa’s new ‘hijacking hot-spots’ for 2021

Car security experts Tracker has released its first set of data for 2021, focusing on the latest hijacking trends in South Africa. Through identifying vehicle crime stats by region, they have been able to map where the worst hot-spots in the country are located – while also ranking the most dangerous provinces.

WHAT THE DATA IS SAYING…

Although not uniquely South African, hijacking crimes are more prevalent in Mzansi than in most other countries. Criminals have thrived off of this harrowing method, which often leads to cases of brutal violence and tragic fatalities. Tracker, whose preliminary release was shared by Business Tech, is set to share more results from its research in due course.

Despite the impact of lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, hijacking cases were reported in their thousands. As restrictions ease for the year ahead, motorists are being warned to keep their guard up – especially in these locations…

WHERE ARE THE HIJACKING HOT-SPOTS OF SOUTH AFRICA IN 2021?

In terms of the provincial breakdown, Gauteng is the worst-affected region for hijacking incidents. That’s followed up by KZN in second, and the Western Cape in third. Johannesburg and Durban stay true to the formbook as the top hot-spots, but it’s Mitchell’s Plain – rather than Cape Town – that sees the highest frequency of these crimes in the south-west.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Northern Cape – somewhat predictably – is the least-affected region. Free State and Limpopo can also revel in relatively low rates, but hot-spots have been located in Kimberley, Bloemfontein, and Dennilton respectively. Even in these quieter parts, you’re not completely safe from the threat of hijacking.

North West, Mpumalanga, and the Eastern Cape can settle for a mid-table berth, but it’s worth noting that the towns of Rustenburg, eMalahleni, and Motherwell are also listed as hijacking hot-spots.