Johannesburg, South Africa – Truck looting remains a persistent issue in South Africa, where cargo theft incidents frequently target vehicles involved in accidents or immobilized in traffic. Hijackings of loaded trucks represent the primary method of cargo theft, often involving violence against drivers or security escorts. South Africa accounts for approximately 30% of all cargo crime in the Middle East and Africa region. Trucks in transit, whether mobile or temporarily stationary, account for 62% of cargo theft cases in the country.
Official statistics indicate 66 truck hijacking cases reported nationwide in 2024, with 24 cases recorded in 2025 up to November. Gauteng province serves as the primary hotspot, contributing between 48.6% and 71.5% of national truck hijacking totals in the April to June 2025 period. More than 1,000 trucks have been attacked and set alight across the country, with drivers reporting heightened fears for their personal safety while transporting goods. Over 200 foreign truck drivers have been killed in attacks since March 2018.
Specific incidents illustrate the pattern of looting following accidents. In January 2023, a refrigerated truck transporting meat was looted on the R66 road in KwaZulu-Natal’s King Cetshwayo District. In August 2025, hundreds gathered at a crash scene expecting valuable cargo, only to find the truck carried books. Looting also occurs when trucks become stuck, such as failing to climb hills, leading to opportunistic theft of loads. Reports from October 2025 describe instances where drivers were killed to facilitate looting after crashes.
Drivers face direct threats including stoning, arson, and hijackings, with truck fires often linked to looting activities rather than mechanical failures alone. Approximately 80% of cargo thefts involve high levels of violence, and truck operators are frequently kidnapped or harmed during these events. The Road Traffic Management Corporation reported 2,237 fatal truck crashes involving 3,546 trucks over a five-year period ending in 2023, with some incidents escalating to looting.
For truck owners, the financial repercussions are substantial. Vehicle damage from looting or robbery results in significant losses, compounded by stolen cargo. The increase in delivery vehicles on roads has correlated with rising hijacking and cargo theft rates, disrupting supply chains. Insurance claims for heavy commercial vehicles surged over 1,700% in early 2022 following looting spikes in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Prior to July 2021 unrest, more than 1,400 trucks had been burnt or looted on South African roads since 2019.
These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges within South Africa’s freight sector, where cargo theft tactics include highway arson and targeted attacks on stationary vehicles.
