Kidnapping cases increased to 4,638 during the first quarter of the 2026/27 year, with Gauteng recording the highest number of incidents in the country.
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South Africa recorded 4,638 kidnappings between April and June 2026, an increase of 172 cases compared with the same period last year, highlighting growing concerns that organised crime syndicates are increasingly using abductions and extortion as lucrative criminal enterprises.
The latest SAPS quarterly crime statistics show that while the country's murder rate declined by 5.9% during the quarter, kidnappings rose by 3.9%, suggesting criminal groups may be shifting towards crimes that generate significant financial returns while carrying lower risks.
Gauteng recorded the highest number of kidnappings in the country with 2,367 cases, accounting for more than half of all reported incidents nationally.
KwaZulu-Natal followed with 887 cases, while the Western Cape recorded 269 kidnappings.
At the other end of the scale, the Northern Cape recorded the lowest number of kidnappings with 38 cases, followed by Free State with 161 and Limpopo with 172.
The SAPS statistics also paint a troubling picture of extortion-related crime. During the quarter, police recorded 519 extortion cases, with Gauteng accounting for the largest share. Common forms included ransom demands, protection-fee schemes, blackmail and threats against businesses and individuals.
Anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee said the rising kidnapping figures are increasingly linked to organised criminal networks.
"The continued rise in kidnapping is deeply concerning, particularly because it is increasingly being linked to organised criminal activity and extortion."
Abramjee said the contrasting crime trends indicate that criminals are adapting their methods.
"The fact that kidnapping is rising while murder is declining shows that criminals are adapting."
He warned that kidnapping has become a highly profitable crime, often connected to ransom demands, extortion, human trafficking and the targeting of business owners and their families.
According to Abramjee, the concentration of kidnapping cases in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape points to the involvement of sophisticated criminal networks operating in the country's major economic hubs.
"The figures point to the need to look beyond individual perpetrators and focus on the organised syndicates financing, coordinating and benefiting from these crimes."
He said the impact extends far beyond the victims directly affected.
"Kidnapping creates fear, affects people's movements and can force businesses to spend more on security."
Abramjee added that extortion poses a serious threat to economic activity, particularly where criminal groups demand protection money from businesses.
Call for intelligence-led response
The anti-crime campaigner urged law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts against the financial structures underpinning organised crime.
"Law enforcement needs to strengthen intelligence-led investigations, improve cooperation between the SAPS, Hawks, prosecutors and other agencies, and target the financial networks behind these crimes."
He stressed that authorities must focus on dismantling syndicates rather than only arresting individual offenders.
"There also needs to be a stronger focus on disrupting syndicates rather than simply arresting individual suspects."
Abramjee also cautioned that while many kidnappings for ransom are carried out by professional criminal gangs, emerging "copycat" groups appear to be imitating their tactics.
IOL News
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