General
Kidnappings on the rise in South Africa─── 08:44 Wed, 20 Nov 2019
There is a dangerous crime wave hitting South Africa. Kidnappings have shown a marked increase in recent years.
Where targets were previously wealthy individuals, criminals are now preying on ordinary citizens, including teenagers and children.
Official police statistics show kidnapping skyrocketing by 139% in the last decade and there appears to be a trend towards opportunistic abductions for quick ransom payments via e-wallets.
Based on the latest police statistics, about 16 people are kidnapped or abducted in South Africa daily. Not all end in a ransom demand.
However, the growing trend of opportunistic kidnappings is an increasing concern for authorities.
