Kempton Park has emerged as Gauteng's kidnapping hotspot, with 76 cases reported between April and June. This represents a 58.3% increase from the same period last year. The area has recorded the highest number of kidnapping cases in Gauteng during the quarter. According to the latest SAPS crime statistics, released on August 28, Kempton Park police station recorded 76 kidnapping cases during this period.
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has raised concerns over the rising kidnapping cases. The committee believes that the exceptionally high kidnapping figures in Kempton Park demand intensified policing, intelligence-led investigations, and visible interventions to protect residents. The committee also warned that kidnapping cannot be treated in isolation due to its links to hijacking, organised crime, and ransom demands.
Across Gauteng, 2 367 kidnapping cases were recorded between April and June, accounting for more than half of the 4 638 reported nationally. The figures come as Ekurhuleni reels from the discovery of the bodies of nine women across the municipality in recent weeks. SAPS also acknowledged that poor lighting, overgrown areas, and abandoned or poorly monitored spaces could affect public safety and police visibility.
Most kidnappings in Gauteng are classified as "express kidnappings", where victims are abducted for a short period while suspects empty their bank accounts or transfer money before releasing them. Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said each kidnapping complaint is investigated on its own merits, while broader trends are analysed through Crime Intelligence and the Crime Registrar.
Crime expert and anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee attributed the rise in kidnappings to Ekurhuleni's position as a major transport, logistics, and economic hub. He said kidnappings have become increasingly commercialised, being used for ransom, extortion, debt collection, and other criminal purposes. Abramjee called for intelligence-led policing, stronger investigations, improved surveillance, and the disruption of financial networks behind kidnappings.
The response to the rising kidnapping cases needs to involve more than just the police. Nehson Pillay, Gauteng Provincial Community Police Board executive public relations officer, said the Board's position is that SAPS, EMPD, the City of Ekurhuleni, and community structures must plan and operate together at station level. ActionSA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Xolani Khumalo pointed to the state of Kempton Park's CBD, citing hijacked buildings, broken streetlights, and poorly maintained public spaces as contributing factors to the safety problems.
The committee has called for stronger intelligence gathering, better coordination between law enforcement agencies, targeted operations in identified hotspots, and deeper engagement with communities. The City of Ekurhuleni was approached for comment on the concerns raised about the state of the Kempton Park CBD but had not responded by the time of publication.
Key points
- Kempton Park records 76 kidnapping cases between April and June, a 58.3% increase from the same period last year.
- Gauteng sees 2 367 kidnapping cases between April and June, accounting for more than half of the 4 638 reported nationally.
- Authorities call for stronger intelligence gathering and better coordination to address rising kidnapping cases.
