Truck hijackings remain a significant issue in South Africa’s transportation sector, with thousands of incidents recorded annually by law enforcement agencies. In the financial year 2023, authorities documented 1,976 truck hijackings nationwide. This figure marked an increase from prior years, contributing to a broader pattern of vehicle-related crimes that includes 22,735 carjackings in the 2023/24 period, averaging 62 carjackings per day.
Recent quarterly data from the South African Police Service (SAPS) indicates fluctuations in hijacking rates. In the third quarter of 2024, Gauteng province reported 249 truck hijackings, which decreased to 223 in the third quarter of 2025, reflecting a 10.4% reduction. Despite this drop, Gauteng accounted for the highest number of such incidents countrywide during that period. In the fourth quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year, spanning January to March 2025, trucks exceeding 3,500kg experienced 58 hijackings, representing a 56.8% increase from the previous quarter. Overall vehicle hijackings in the last quarter of 2025 totaled 4,420, an 8.1% decline compared to the same period in 2024. However, this still equated to nearly 48 vehicles hijacked daily.
Gauteng consistently emerges as the primary hotspot for truck hijackings, contributing between 48.6% and 71.5% of the national total in recent analyses. In the first quarter of 2025 (April to June), national truck hijacking cases ranged from 222 to 414, with Gauteng recording between 108 and 296 incidents, showing increases of 6.9% to 35.2% year-over-year. Other provinces, including Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, have seen notable rises, while the Eastern Cape reported a 31% decrease in overall hijackings in the last quarter of 2025. Between January and September 2025, SAPS logged 13,968 carjackings, with pickup trucks frequently targeted alongside commercial vehicles.
Vehicle types most affected include sedans, hatchbacks, and coupes at 44% of hijackings, followed by bakkies and panel vans at 33.1%, and SUVs at 7.5%. Trucks over 3,500kg have become increasingly targeted due to their cargo value, with incidents rising sharply in early 2025. Business-owned vehicles face a 48% higher risk of hijacking compared to privately owned ones, according to data from over 1.1 million vehicle tracking subscriptions between January and June 2025. Hijackings now constitute 56% of all vehicle crimes nationally, with this figure climbing to 80% for business vehicles.
Several high-profile incidents highlight the ongoing nature of this crime. In March 2026, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested two suspects in Etwatwa for possessing a hijacked truck and stolen goods valued at R1.3 million. In January 2026, a joint operation recovered three hijacked trucks carrying copper worth R30 million in Hammanskraal, leading to the arrest of a Zimbabwean national. November 2025 saw six men arrested for hijacking a truck loaded with meat valued at R500,000 on the R559 between Carletonville and Randfontein; authorities also seized three vehicles used in the crime. In September 2025, two Tactical Response Team members and a former Tshwane Metro Police Department officer were detained for hijacking a truck with goods worth R900,000 along the R21 in Olifantsfontein, with stolen uniforms recovered.
Earlier in 2025, a syndicate posing as traffic officers and SAPS members was dismantled in Sebenza, East Rand, resulting in five arrests, the recovery of a hijacked truck and goods worth R5 million, and the confiscation of two vehicles; one suspect was a former Johannesburg Metro Police Department officer. In July 2025, at least six vehicles from the Eastern Cape Department of Transport’s fleet, including tipper trucks and a crane, were hijacked or stripped during road repairs in areas like Cala, Cofimvaba, and Elliotdale, costing over R200,000. November 2025 also featured an attempted hijacking of a G20 summit vehicle near Nasrec in Johannesburg, where a suspect with an imitation firearm was shot and arrested by the National Intervention Unit.
The economic repercussions of truck hijackings are substantial. These crimes cost South Africa’s economy approximately R10 billion annually, based on 2020 estimates. Industry assessments place the annual loss from truck hijackings at around R3 billion. In 2014, 991 incidents alone resulted in R1.2 billion in damages to the logistics sector. These events drive up insurance premiums, with increases exceeding 1,700% in some cases following civil unrest and rising crime in 2021-2022. Additional costs include enhanced security measures, fuel for route diversions, delivery delays, and the loss of vehicles and cargo.
The impact extends to supply chain efficiency, with billions lost yearly to cargo theft, classifying South Africa as an extreme-risk area for such crimes. This affects trade with landlocked neighboring countries, as instability in South Africa’s freight routes disrupts regional logistics. An inverse correlation exists between crime rates and economic growth, exacerbated by events like the COVID-19 lockdowns, which heightened vulnerabilities in the freight industry. Small and medium-sized trucking enterprises in Gauteng report ongoing financial and psychological strain despite slight declines in incidents.
Syndicates often involve organized groups, sometimes with links to cross-border operations or former law enforcement personnel. Industry estimates suggest 30 to 35 truck hijackings occur weekly nationwide, with 65% in Gauteng. High-risk areas include the N3 Durban-Johannesburg highway and regions like Germiston, Kempton Park, and Heidelberg.
Arrests and recoveries continue, but the crime persists, with hijackings outnumbering thefts in several provinces.
Fatal Head-On Collision Claims Five Lives on R42 Near Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Gauteng – A tragic head-on collision occurred on the R42 road west of Heidelberg in Gauteng during the early hours of Sunday morning, resulting in the deaths of five individuals.
The incident involved two vehicles: a VW Polo carrying three male occupants and a Land Rover Freelander with two male occupants. Reports indicate that the VW Polo crossed into the oncoming lane, leading to a direct collision with the Land Rover Freelander. All three men in the VW Polo and both men in the Land Rover Freelander were pronounced dead at the scene. No additional injuries were reported in connection with the crash.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation has confirmed the details of the accident and stated that an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause. Authorities are examining factors that may have contributed to the VW Polo entering the wrong lane, though no further specifics have been released at this time.
This stretch of the R42, which connects various parts of Gauteng, was the location of the collision, highlighting ongoing road safety concerns in the region. The incident took place before dawn on Sunday, with emergency services responding promptly to the scene west of Heidelberg.
Five Men Arrested on N1 Highway in Western Cape Police Operation
Cape Town, South Africa – In a coordinated police operation on the N1 highway, five men were arrested on charges related to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as possession of suspected stolen property.
The arrests occurred on Friday, March 6, 2026. At approximately 16:00, members of the Garden Route and Central Karoo Crime Intelligence, Central Karoo Flying Squad, and K9 units stopped a Toyota Starlet rental vehicle near Prince Albert in the Central Karoo. The vehicle had three occupants. A search revealed a 9mm pistol, an imitation firearm, 48 rounds of ammunition in various calibers, and an undisclosed amount of cash. The three men were arrested on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Approximately one hour later, at 17:00, Breede River K9 members intercepted another Toyota Starlet rental vehicle at the entrance to Paarl. This vehicle had two occupants. A search uncovered an undisclosed amount of cash, which the occupants could not account for. The two men were arrested on charges of possession of suspected stolen property.
The five suspects, aged between 38 and 50, were traveling from the Eastern Cape to Cape Town. Both vehicles were seized by police. The cash is suspected to have been stolen during earlier robberies, and the circumstances surrounding the incidents remain under investigation.
The suspects are currently in custody and are expected to appear in court once formally charged. Additional charges may be added as the investigation progresses.
Western Cape police management commended the officers involved for their collaborative efforts in apprehending the suspects and recovering the items.
Officers Wounded in Johannesburg Pursuit Shootout
Johannesburg – Two South African Police Service (SAPS) officers sustained gunshot wounds during a vehicle pursuit in the Langlaagte area on Saturday morning. The incident occurred while the officers were following a Toyota sedan along Main Reef Road.
According to reports, the suspects in the Toyota made an abrupt maneuver, allowing their vehicle to fall behind the police car. As the officers’ vehicle moved past, gunfire erupted from the suspects’ car. One officer suffered a graze wound to the head, while the other was struck in the shoulder.
Both injured officers were promptly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Their conditions have not been disclosed, but they remain under medical care.
Authorities have initiated an investigation into the shooting and are actively searching for the suspects involved. No arrests have been made at this time.
Motorist Arrested in KZN for Attempted Bribery of Traffic Officers During Road Safety Operation
In northern KwaZulu-Natal, a motorist was arrested after allegedly attempting to bribe Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) officers with cash and braai meat. The incident took place during the #NenzaniLaEzweni road safety operation in the uMkhanyakude district.
The motorist was initially stopped by RTI officers from Jozini for exceeding the speed limit and driving under the influence of alcohol. Upon being informed of the arrest, the driver offered R500 to the officers to avoid detention. The amount was later increased to R700, along with an offer of braai meat from the vehicle.
The entire interaction was captured on camera, and the footage is set to be used as evidence in court proceedings against the motorist.
Siboniso Duma, the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements in KwaZulu-Natal, commended the officers for their actions. He stated, “We wish to salute our highly motivated and energised team of RTI from Jozini for arresting a motorist who offered a bribe of R700 and braai meat.” Duma further added, “We pause to pay tribute to Ama RTI Amahle for their high level of integrity, commitment, and exemplary conduct in the public service.”
Duma also highlighted the broader context of such incidents, noting, “Good governance partly means that we must reverse the prevailing culture in which bribery is viewed as permissible.” He emphasized the challenges faced by officers amid economic difficulties but praised their adherence to professional standards.
The RTI officers are responsible for enforcing road safety across more than 34,000 kilometers of road networks in KwaZulu-Natal. The department reported the arrest as part of ongoing efforts to combat corruption and ensure compliance with traffic laws.
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Major Bust in Tsakane: 33 Foreign Nationals Detained in Crackdown on Unauthorized Mining
TSAKANE, South Africa – In a coordinated effort to combat unauthorized extraction activities, law enforcement authorities apprehended 33 individuals involved in illicit mining at an abandoned site in Tsakane on the morning of March 5, 2026.
The operation was carried out by members of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department’s Intervention Unit, in collaboration with the South African Police Service’s specialized unit focused on illegal mining, and private security firm Quattro Security. The team targeted the Vlakfontein Old Mine Dumping Site, a location previously identified as a focal point for such unlawful operations.
Upon arrival, the officers executed a strategic approach to interrupt the ongoing mining activities. The suspects, all foreign nationals ranging in age from 18 to 46, were taken into custody after they were unable to present valid identification papers or passports when requested by the authorities.
In addition to the arrests, the raid resulted in the seizure of several pieces of equipment used in the illegal operations. Items recovered included picks, pendukas, water pumps, spades, hammers, and gas cylinders, all of which were confiscated as evidence.
The detained individuals now face formal charges related to unauthorized mining practices as well as breaches of South Africa’s Immigration Act of 2002. Following their arrest, the group was transported to the Tsakane Police Station for processing and holding.
Officials have indicated that the suspects are scheduled to make their initial court appearance at the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court in the coming days, where proceedings will address the allegations against them.
This action underscores ongoing initiatives by local and national authorities to address the persistent issue of illegal mining in the region, which poses risks to public safety and environmental integrity.
