11 Nov 2024 | 10:39 AM UTC
South Africa: Somali national kidnapped in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape Province, Nov. 9
Authorities searching for kidnapped Somali student, seized in Gelvandale area of Gqeberha, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, late Nov. 9.
Authorities are searching for a Somalian student who was reportedly kidnapped in central Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), late Nov. 9. The victim was reportedly driving with a passenger at around 19:00 in the Gelvandale area when they were blocked in by two other vehicles and held at gunpoint. The victim was robbed and seized while the passenger was left unharmed. Authorities have indicated that no ransom demands have yet been communicated.
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 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 East African descent are also likely targets. 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.
