17 Nov 2024 | 10:30 AM UTC
South Africa: Chinese national kidnapped in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, Nov. 13
Authorities searching for Chinese national kidnapped Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Nov. 13.
South African Police Service (SAPS) is currently searching for a kidnapped Chinese national who was kidanpped in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape, Nov. 13. The victim was forced into a vehicle by three individuals while opening a store along Govan Mbeki Avenue around 08:30. Possible ransom demands and the victim's health status are unclear.
This is the second recent kidnapping of a foreign national in Gqeberha following the abduction on Nov. 9 and release on Nov. 12 of a Somali national. The victim was released with minor injuries. The kidnappers had reportedly demanded a ransom on Nov. 11 for his release, but it is unconfirmed if one was paid.
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 locked doors and windows drawn, and maintain a safe distance between cars in front of and behind you. Employ additional vigilance when entering/exiting a secure compound - parking, gated community, or underground. Do not discuss plans and routes publicly.
Kidnapping for ransom is an increasing concern in South Africa, including in the Eastern Cape Province. While criminal gangs and syndicates operate extensively in the Eastern Cape, opportunistic kidnapping is also a common occurrence. Victims are often local businessmen; individuals of South Asian or Chinese descent are also likely targets as are those from other African countries. Individuals who operate cash-heavy businesses are at an elevated threat. 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.
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 under four 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.
