26 Sep 2024 | 02:59 PM UTC
South Africa: Kidnapped motorist released by captors near Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province, Sept. 26 /update 1
Authorties announce release of kidnapped motorist near Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province, Sept. 26, after six days of captivity.
Authorities have announced that a kidnapped South African national has been released on Sept. 26. The female victim was kidnapped while driving along the N2 between East London and a resort in Port Saint Johns, traveling through Mthatha; the precise location of the incident remains unclear. She, along with another unidentified female victim, was released by her captors at the Sulenkama Police Station, some 105 km (65 miles) inland from Port Saint Johns. A ransom demand had been made; it is unclear whether it had been paid.
Port Saint Johns is located about 218 km (135 miles) north of East London.
Maintain a low public profile and do not show outward displays of wealth, particularly if traveling alone and in higher-risk locations. Be alert to suspicious persons and/or activity. Vary routes regularly. Avoid traveling alone on long distances, at night, or in conditions with poor visibility. Drive with doors locked and windows drawn, and maintain a safe distance between cars in front of and behind you. Do not discuss plans and routes publicly.
Kidnapping for ransom is an increasing concern in South Africa, including in Eastern Cape Province. While criminal gangs and syndicates operate extensively in the Eastern Cape, opportunistic kidnapping is also a common occurrence. Victims have reportedly been assaulted and seriously injured during the commission of kidnappings and while in captivity. Though kidnapping mostly occurs in lower-income areas, some occurrences, mostly opportunistic, have been reported in higher-density and more popular locations. Mthatha, a stop-over town along the N2, is a known criminal hotspot, especially for tourists, with carjackings and extortions very common.
Approximately 4,200 kidnapping cases were reported in South Africa between April and June 2024; of these, 185 were reported in the Eastern Cape, compared to over 2,200 in Gauteng Province. Kidnappings in South Africa are mostly robbery- hijacking- or rape-related; kidnaps for ransom only accounted for three percent nationwide. Security forces are generally under-resourced and have been unable to stem rising crime rates, including kidnapping, which has become an increasingly national security issue. Due to ongoing socioeconomic issues, crime rates are likely to continue to escalate in the medium term.
