Eastern Cape leads plunge in carjackings

The latest SAPS crime statistics for October to December 2025 reveal an 8.1% decrease in reported carjackings compared with the same period in 2024.

In total 4,420 carjackings were reported in the last quarter of 2025 vs 4,807 in the corresponding quarter in 2024, representing 8.1% fewer incidents.

Provincial stats

The Eastern Cape recorded the biggest drop, by almost 31% year-on-year. Other provinces recorded the following decreases:

• Mpumalanga: 20.5%;
• Western Cape: 16.9%;
• Limpopo: 18%;
• KwaZulu-Natal: 10.7%;
• North West: 8.3%; and
• Gauteng: 0.9%.

Gauteng remains the hijacking hotspot, with 2,544 reported cases accounting for more than half of all carjackings. With 4,420 vehicles hijacked during the quarter, it equates to an average of nearly 48 cars hijacked each day.

Eugene Herbert, CEO of driver training company MasterDrive, says that with such a significant drop, the cause of the decreases should be identified to determine if it is due to changing crime patterns or targeted efforts from authorities.

“On the surface, an 8.1% drop in carjackings is positive, but over 2024/2025, 102,000 people were carjacked,” he said.

“Additionally, crime statistics only reflect reported incidents. Victim of Crime Surveys (VOCS) estimate a significant share of hijackings are unreported. The survey suggests the real figure is 23% higher than reported figures, making the real risk much higher.”

Anti-hijacking tips:

• Remain vigilant, especially in unfamiliar or high-risk areas.
• Watch out for vehicles following you or suspicious groups of people at the roadside.
• Vary routes and schedules.
• Keep doors locked and windows up, particularly at traffic lights or in slow-moving traffic.
• Reverse your car into parking spots to quickly escape in dangerous situations.
• Park parallel to your house and be ready to leave suddenly.
• Anticipate traffic light changes.
• Watch your blind spot as criminals often stand in these.
• Always have an escape route.

If a hijacking is unavoidable:

• Do not resist or argue — your life is worth more than any vehicle.
• Avoid sudden movements that could be misinterpreted.
• Immediately report the incident to the SAPS.

Provincial community safety department spokesperson Michael Msebi credited the decline to “strengthened intelligence-driven operations, improved police visibility, and enhanced collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community structures” and commended police on the statistic.

“We further encourage communities to remain vigilant and to work closely with law enforcement … The fight against crime requires a collective approach," he said.

Red Alert spokesperson Brett Harvey said: “I would assume that some criminals have just switched what they are doing, for now. CIT robberies, armed robberies and other violent crimes are usually committed by the same criminals.

“I also think that a few of these types of syndicates have been taken down in the last few months in our area.”