SA kidnapping cases are at an unprecedented level

How have you and your organisation prepared for this eventuality?

Considering the sharp rise in kidnappings in South Africa reported in 2022, leading risk management consultancy Riskonet Africa has warned organisations to reassess their security protocols.

According to the Q2 crime statistics, released on 23 November, over 4000 cases of kidnapping were reported to police between July and September 2022. This figure has doubled nationally.

The report details carjacking, robbery, and rape as the primary motives for kidnapping across the country. Cases are particularly high in Gauteng, where an average of 579 kidnappings a month took place in the first half of 2022.

“These statistics should be sounding alarm bells for organisations who do not have specific security measures in place,” says Chris Brits, CEO atRiskonet Africa, and Riskonet Limited Mauritius. The risk exists for all organisations irrespective of their size or financial resources, and preventative measures and action plans should be put in place to minimise the threat to individuals and organisations,” he adds.

According to a report from GI-TOC, the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime, “Kidnapping for ransom has soared since 2016 due to foreign syndicates shifting operations to South Africa and local copycat groups mimicking their modus operandi but targeting South African nationals.”

The report indicates that while kidnappers target vulnerable members of townships and informal settlements, prominent businesspeople and their families are also at risk, with ransom being calibrated accordingly.

“Riskonet Africa and its network of security specialists has a thorough understanding of the intricacies of these crimes and what preventative measures should be taken in order to protect your business,” says Brits. “We offer investigations into missing persons, homicides and a number of commercial crimes such as crimes perpetrated by employees, burglaries, and hijackings. We also provide solutions to corporates through security risk assessments, security standards development, employee vetting, security guard assessments, voice and video surveillance, and undercover and sting operations,” he explains.