The Gauteng Provincial Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has called for an urgent response to the escalating kidnapping crisis in the province. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) latest crime statistics, Kempton Park recorded 76 kidnapping cases between April and June 2026, compared with 48 during the same period in 2025, an increase of 58.3%. This makes Kempton Park the highest recording precinct in Gauteng for kidnapping during the quarter.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Bandile Masuku, expressed concern over the figures, citing the recent discovery of the bodies of several women in the broader Ekurhuleni area. Masuku said the exceptionally high kidnapping figures in Kempton Park demand intensified policing, intelligence-led investigations, and visible interventions to protect residents. He added that the picture is equally alarming at the provincial level, with Gauteng recording 2 367 kidnapping cases between April and June 2026.
Gauteng accounts for more than half of the 4 638 kidnapping cases recorded nationally during the quarter. Masuku said the Committee is particularly concerned that kidnapping in Gauteng is taking different forms, including hijacking-related kidnappings and the growing threat of kidnapping for ransom. The Committee believes that kidnapping cannot be treated as an isolated crime when its tentacles extend into hijacking, organised crime, ransom demands, and the targeting of vulnerable people.
During a presentation by the SAPS, it emerged that the established organised crime team dealt with ransom kidnapping cases in Bekkersdal and Roodepoort during the first quarter of the current financial year. In Bekkersdal, a ransom of R5 million was reportedly demanded, while a R3 million ransom was demanded in the Roodepoort case. These figures have raised concerns about the scale of the kidnapping crisis in Gauteng.
The Committee is calling for kidnapping to receive the highest level of attention in Gauteng, including strengthened intelligence gathering, enhanced coordination between law enforcement agencies, targeted operations in identified hotspots, and stronger engagement with communities. The Committee also urged residents to work closely with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activity and providing information that could assist investigations.
Masuku emphasized that the message from the Committee is clear: Gauteng cannot normalise kidnapping. Communities must be protected, criminal networks must be disrupted, and those responsible must face the full might of the law. The Committee's call for action comes as the province grapples with the growing prevalence, causes, and impact of kidnapping.
The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety will continue to engage with stakeholders to address the kidnapping crisis in Gauteng. The Committee's efforts aim to bring about a coordinated response to the crisis, which has become a major concern for residents and law enforcement agencies alike.
Key points
- Kempton Park recorded 76 kidnapping cases between April and June 2026, the highest in Gauteng.
- Gauteng accounts for more than half of the 4 638 kidnapping cases recorded nationally during the quarter.
- The Committee is calling for strengthened intelligence gathering and enhanced coordination between law enforcement agencies to address the kidnapping crisis.
