KEY POINTS
- Carjackings in South Africa dropped by 15.1% in early 2025.
- Most hijackings targeted sedans and hatchbacks in urban areas.
- Truck hijackings and vehicle theft also saw major decreases.
According to authorities, the number of car hijacking instances nationally decreased by 15.1% in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the same period the previous year.
Carjackings in South Africa drop by 15.1% in 2025
On May 23, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed the most recent crime statistics, which showed that most provinces had seen improvements in vehicle-related offenses.
Between January and March 2025, police reported 4,533 carjackings, a significant drop from 5,338 incidents in the same period in 2024.
With the exception of North West, which recorded a 1.2% increase in vehicle hijacking events this year, all provinces showed a decline in carjackings.
The provinces that saw the biggest drops were KwaZulu-Natal (down 25.7%), Eastern Cape (32.4%), Western Cape (23.5%), and Mpumalanga (down 35.4%).
With a 2.7% decrease in hijackings, Gauteng also saw improvement, keeping its standing as one of the most dangerous areas in the nation.
Sedans and hatchbacks accounted for 2,016 hijackings during three months, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
According to Businesslive, panel vans and bakkies came in second at 1,503, followed by SUVs (341), minibuses (292), and motorcyclists (291).
The seven most commonly hijacked cars in South Africa were published by Fidelity Services Group, although the police did not specify which car types were targeted.
Among the high-risk models were the Nissan NP200, which was particularly well-liked for part sales, the VW Polo, the Ford Ranger, the Toyota Fortuner, the Hilux, the Corolla Cross, and the RAV4.
According to Wahl Bartmann, CEO of Fidelity, the majority of hijackings occurred close to the victim’s residence or place of employment, hence raising awareness is an important preventative measure.
How to stay safe from carjackings in South Africa
According to police data, truck hijackings decreased by 21.6% nationwide, with decreases in all provinces but Gauteng and the Northern Cape.
Free State saw an 11.1% increase in vehicle thefts, which decreased 9.1% to 7,731 incidents from 8,502 in the first quarter of last year.
Additionally, motor vehicle thefts decreased from 20,475 to 19,032, a 7% fall in all provinces, supporting a decline in crime nationwide.
According to Mchunu, authorities believe that over 30% of cars that are stolen or hijacked are shipped into neighboring countries for resale.
Fidelity advises being vigilant, avoiding remote regions, and driving to secure areas if you think you’re being followed in order to prevent hijacking.
Noting that perpetrators are typically armed and prepared to use lethal force, Bartmann cautioned victims against resisting during hijackings.
According to Bartmann, “hijackings can happen anytime, anywhere.” “The best defense against falling victim to these violent crimes is to stay vigilant.”
