Johannesburg, 24 February 2026 — South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics recorded 17,061 kidnapping cases in the 2023/24 financial year (April 2023 to March 2024). This figure marks a 264% increase from 4,692 cases reported in 2014/15. The period averaged 47 kidnappings per day nationwide.
In the July-to-September quarter of 2023/24, the daily average reached 50 reported cases, an 8% rise compared with the same quarter the previous year. Gauteng province accounted for 51% of the national total, followed by KwaZulu-Natal at 20%, with Western Cape and Mpumalanga each at 6%, Eastern Cape at 5%, and the remaining provinces between 1% and 4%.
Hotspot police precincts consistently included Moroka, Orange Farm, Midrand, Protea, and Tembisa, all located in Gauteng. Analysis of 14,646 sampled cases (86% of the 2023/24 total) showed motives established in 91% of incidents: 66% linked to aggravated robberies (44% during vehicle hijackings and 22% during other robberies), 10% connected to sexual assault or rape, 7% to gang or rival retaliation, and 4% to ransom demands. Less than 1% were linked to extortion or human trafficking. Fewer than 5% of all kidnappings overall involved ransom, human trafficking, or extortion.
Kidnapping is legally defined in South Africa as the unlawful and intentional deprivation of a person’s freedom of movement or a parent’s control over a child. The majority of reported cases involve short-term “express” kidnappings tied to theft, during which victims are forced to withdraw cash via ATMs or mobile banking under duress before release. These incidents overlap with broader trends in aggravated robbery, which rose 2.9% in 2023/24, alongside 22,735 carjackings (63 per day, up 78% over the decade) and 1,976 truck hijackings (up 54.5% over the decade).
Child kidnappings form a documented subset. Statistics South Africa data drawn from SAPS records show kidnapping rose as a proportion of all reported crimes against children aged 0–17, from 0.8% in 2010/11 to 3.8% in 2022/23. In 2022/23, 71.8% of child kidnapping victims were girls. Incidents occurred most frequently in the early afternoon. Reports citing police figures indicated just over 1,300 child kidnappings recorded in 2024. According to Missing Children South Africa, 77% of reported missing children are located, leaving 23% never found, trafficked, or found deceased. Older SAPS Missing Persons Bureau data from 2013 stated children went missing every five hours.
A high-profile example occurred on 19 February 2024 when six-year-old Joshlin Smith disappeared from her home in Middelpos, Saldanha Bay, Western Cape. On 2 May 2025 the Western Cape High Court convicted her mother Racquel “Kelly” Smith, boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and associate Steveno van Rhyn of kidnapping and human trafficking. All three received life imprisonment sentences on the trafficking charge and additional terms on the kidnapping charge on 29 May 2025. Joshlin Smith has not been located.
Kidnapping occurs globally as a criminal act involving the taking or detention of a person against their will, frequently for ransom, robbery, sexual exploitation, forced labour, or other purposes. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2024 recorded a 25% increase in detected trafficking victims in 2022 compared with 2019 pre-pandemic levels, with child victims rising in both low- and high-income countries. Trafficking detections for forced labour increased 47% globally over the same period, and many cases begin with abduction or kidnapping elements. In 2022, 58% of detected victims were trafficked within their own country.
Documented effects on victims and families are consistent across research. Survivors of kidnapping commonly experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and long-term difficulties with trust and feelings of safety. Child victims face additional developmental impacts because the trauma occurs during critical psychological growth stages. Studies on abducted children show outcomes including serious mental harm in a portion of cases, educational interruptions, substandard living conditions during captivity, and instructions to lie or fear authorities. Returned children may exhibit loyalty conflicts, emotional detachment, or view the recovery process itself as another form of abduction.
Families of kidnapped individuals report ongoing emotional distress, depression, and persistent fear for the missing person’s safety. Siblings and extended relatives often experience secondary trauma. In South Africa, where most kidnappings link to immediate robbery rather than prolonged captivity, the sudden deprivation of freedom still produces acute stress responses that can persist. Communities in high-incidence areas adjust daily routines, limiting movement and economic activity due to the recorded risk.
SAPS quarterly releases for 2025 continued to show elevated kidnapping volumes in Gauteng and selected Western Cape precincts, with specific stations such as Kempton Park reporting increases. The 2023/24 and subsequent figures confirm the upward trajectory observed over the past decade.
Armed Robbery Targets Cash-in-Transit Vehicle on Rockey Street in Yeoville, Johannesburg
Johannesburg – On Monday 23 February 2026, an armed robbery targeted a cash-in-transit vehicle in Yeoville, in the City of Johannesburg.
The incident occurred in the morning, with reports of an active armed robbery in progress received at approximately 11:02. The location was Rockey Street, with the surrounding area including the intersection of Raleigh Street and Bedford Road affected. Streets in the vicinity were closed off as part of the police response.
Armed suspects confronted the cash-in-transit crew during the incident. A shootout took place between the suspects and security personnel. One suspect sustained gunshot wounds during the confrontation and was reported to be in critical condition. This suspect was arrested at the scene. The remaining suspects fled on foot.
The suspects removed a cash container from the vehicle but abandoned it while escaping. Weapons were recovered at the scene by authorities.
No injuries were reported among the cash-in-transit crew members or members of the public.
Police and private security teams responded promptly to the scene. A police helicopter and multiple South African Police Service vehicles were deployed, locking down the area and establishing a perimeter. Emergency medical personnel attended to the injured suspect on site.
Authorities have confirmed that investigations into the robbery are underway. Motorists and residents were advised to avoid the area and exercise caution while the scene was secured and evidence was collected.
This is the only confirmed information available from reports on the incident at the time of publication. No further details on the exact amount of cash involved, the number of suspects beyond the one arrested, or any additional arrests have been released.
Tragic Incident in Tongaat: Man and Two Young Girls Discovered Deceased in Residence
Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal – February 24, 2026
Authorities are investigating the deaths of a man and two young girls found in a home in Shastri Circle, Tongaat, on Tuesday.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) was alerted to the situation at around 13:49 and promptly sent officers to the scene. By the time they arrived, South African Police Service (SAPS) personnel and representatives from private emergency services were already present.
The man was discovered hanging inside the house. Further examination of the premises revealed the bodies of two girls, aged four and seven, in a bedroom.
The events surrounding the girls’ deaths remain under active police investigation, with certain details not released due to their sensitive nature.
Deadly Shootout Ends Pursuit of Cash-in-Transit Robbery Suspects in KwaZulu-Natal
Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal – Two suspects linked to a cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery were killed in a confrontation with police on February 24, 2026, following a high-stakes chase that began after a heist in Verulam the previous day.
The incident traces back to February 23, 2026, when at least 12 armed suspects targeted a CIT vehicle at the intersection of Jabu Ngcobo and Fairview roads in Verulam, north of Durban. The robbery occurred on Old Inanda Road in the Brindhaven area, where the perpetrators made off with an undisclosed sum of money after a violent encounter.
Local residents alerted private security firm Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) to the robbery, reporting explosions and gunfire. Upon arrival, RUSA officers engaged in a shootout with the heavily armed suspects, during which a RUSA response vehicle was struck by two bullets. Firearms believed to have been abandoned by the fleeing robbers were later recovered at the scene.
Acting on intelligence from crime units, members of the Durban Metropolitan Police Service (DMPS) supported the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) in tracking the suspects to the Nhlazatshe area in Shayamoya, Edendale, outside Pietermaritzburg. Upon approaching, law enforcement encountered three individuals who initiated gunfire against the officers.
In the ensuing exchange, two of the suspects sustained fatal injuries at the location. The third suspect escaped by leaping over a fence and discarding a rifle during the pursuit.
KwaZulu-Natal South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the details of the robbery and subsequent shootout, noting the connection between the Verulam heist and the events in Edendale. Authorities continue to investigate the full scope of the operation, including the recovery of any additional evidence from the scenes.
This event highlights ongoing challenges with CIT robberies in the region, where coordinated police efforts aim to disrupt such criminal activities. No officers were reported injured in the Pietermaritzburg confrontation.
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SAPS Raids Ultra Liquors Outlet in Gauteng Over Fake License and Counterfeit Goods
Johannesburg, Gauteng – South African Police Service (SAPS) officers conducted a raid on an Ultra Liquors outlet in Gauteng following the discovery of a suspected fraudulent operating license. The operation targeted one of the chain’s stores as part of broader initiatives to combat the sale of illegal and counterfeit liquor across South Africa.
During the raid, authorities seized counterfeit alcohol and additional illicit goods estimated to be worth more than R400,000. This seizure aligns with ongoing enforcement actions against the distribution of fake alcoholic beverages, which pose significant health risks to consumers.
SAPS has emphasized the importance of purchasing alcohol solely from verified and licensed retailers to avoid the dangers associated with counterfeit products. The raid is connected to wider concerns about illicit alcohol networks in the province, including recent inspections that uncovered unverified batches of liquor at other Ultra Liquors locations.
In a related development earlier this month, SAPS’s FLASH unit, alongside the Gauteng Liquor Board, shut down an illegal liquor outlet in De Deur, Gauteng, on February 4, 2026, after confirming a fraudulent license. A trader was arrested and charged in that incident, following intelligence reports on fake licenses in the area. Investigations into such operations continue, with authorities intensifying compliance checks across Gauteng.
Separate enforcement actions have also targeted counterfeit alcohol production in the region. For instance, police uncovered a fake alcohol manufacturing plant in Westonaria, seizing drums of counterfeit spirits like vodka and whiskey, along with packaged liquor ready for distribution. In another case in Dobsonville, two foreign nationals were arrested on January 17, 2026, for producing fake alcohol, including imitations of brands like Remy Martin. These arrests involved the confiscation of machinery and packaged alcohol during an intelligence-led raid.
Gauteng police have issued warnings about the escalating issue of counterfeit alcohol, noting that such products can endanger public health. The province has seen multiple busts, including a prior operation in Boksburg where nearly R400,000 worth of counterfeit goods were seized and two individuals arrested. These efforts underscore the SAPS’s commitment to disrupting illegal alcohol supply chains.
Allegations of Police Extortion at Johannesburg Park Station Surface on Social Media
Johannesburg, South Africa – February 24, 2026
A video posted on X on February 24, 2026, by the account sa_crime depicts South African Police Service (SAPS) officers at Johannesburg Park Station interacting with individuals identified as undocumented foreign nationals. The post includes an 85-second video showing officers conducting arrests and instances where money changes hands.
The South African Police Service in Gauteng launched a threat and risk assessment on February 23, 2026, following social media claims that officers at Hillbrow and Johannesburg Central stations arrest foreign nationals, both documented and undocumented, and release them after receiving payments between R500 and R5,000.
SAPS issued a statement indicating that corruption or extortion by its members will not be tolerated and urged the public to report such incidents through designated channels.
Crime expert Yusuf Abramjee shared reports on February 22 and 23, 2026, detailing allegations that police in Hillbrow and Johannesburg areas confiscate documents from foreigners and demand payments for their release.
Additional reports describe SAPS Railway Police at Johannesburg Park Station performing routine stop-and-searches near the Zimbabwean bus rank in Braamfontein, targeting illegal immigrants boarding cross-border buses to SADC countries, and requesting bribes. One officer is referred to as “shorty” in these accounts.
A social media post dated February 22, 2026, claimed that SAPS officers in areas such as Rabie Ridge, Ivory Park, and Hillbrow generate up to R10,000 daily by establishing roadblocks to arrest migrants in taxis and collect bribes.
Another post from the same date stated that similar extortion activities by SAPS have taken place across the country for years, affecting both foreigners and locals.
A witness account posted on February 22, 2026, described observing three police trucks at the intersection of Jeppe and Mooi streets in Johannesburg, where lines of people formed to pay for the release of arrested illegal immigrants.
Public responses to the February 24, 2026, video on X include over 70 reposts and expressions of demand for accountability from SAPS, with calls for punishment of the officers involved.
No further verified details specific to the February 24, 2026, incident at Johannesburg Park Station have been reported beyond these related accounts.
