South Africa is in the grip of a growing extortion and kidnapping crisis, with a series of high-profile cases grabbing headlines in recent weeks. The issue came into sharp focus when WhatsApp messages presented to the Madlanga Commission alleged that taxi bosses Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni and Bafana Sindane used threats and intimidation to extract money from businessmen operating in Mpumalanga. A businessman, Dr Tengane Thomas Ntuli, has opened a R2 million extortion case against the two men.
The problem of extortion and kidnapping appears to be widespread, with numerous cases reported across the country. In one recent incident, five men appeared in the Ntuzuma Regional Court on extortion and kidnapping charges. The men were accused of kidnapping a boy at gunpoint and demanding a R1 million ransom from his mother in May 2022. The police were able to intercept the vehicle the accused were traveling in, rescue the boy, and recover R90,000 of the ransom money.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics for the first quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year, there were 4,638 reported cases of kidnapping across the country. Gauteng had the highest number of cases, with 2,367 reported incidents, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 887 cases. The SAPS also reported that 231 incidents of kidnapping were motivated by ransom demands, while 24 incidents involved extortion.
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has expressed concern about the high number of kidnapping cases in Kempton Park, which recorded 76 incidents between April and June 2026. This represents a significant increase from the same period in 2025, when 48 cases were reported. The committee has called for intensified policing and intelligence-led investigations to address the issue.
The Western Cape has also seen a significant number of extortion-related incidents, including the arrest of four men accused of being part of an extortion syndicate. The men were found to be in possession of firearms and ammunition, and were charged with extortion, possession of prohibited firearms, and illegal possession of ammunition. In another case, a South African and his two sons, one of whom is a police officer, appeared in court accused of extorting money from convenience stores run by Ethiopians and Somalis.
The extortion economy appears to be targeting a range of businesses, including foreign-owned "spaza" shops. A Cape Town trader and his wife were murdered in September, with claims that a dispute over an alleged protection fee may have been behind the killings. The police have not confirmed an extortion link, but are investigating the circumstances surrounding the murders.
The SAPS and government officials have acknowledged the growing problem of extortion and kidnapping, and have pledged to take steps to address it. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said that extortion crime has increased exponentially in recent years, and that the SAPS Reset Agenda provides a clear direction for addressing the issue. He emphasized the need for a collaborative approach, involving communities, law enforcement agencies, and civil society, to build a safer South Africa.
Key points
- The SAPS has reported 4,638 cases of kidnapping across South Africa in the first quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year.
- Gauteng has the highest number of kidnapping cases, with 2,367 reported incidents.
- The SAPS Reset Agenda aims to address the growing problem of extortion and kidnapping through a collaborative approach involving communities, law enforcement agencies, and civil society.
