Gauteng is officially the epicentre of kidnapping in South Africa with more than half of the country’s kidnapping taking place in the province. Despite this heinous crime endangering the lives of Gauteng residents, Premier Panyaza Lesufi has remained actionless. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng urges Premier Lesufi to stop being a bystander and act urgently and decisively to stop this crime in its tracks.
According to the South African Police Crime Statistics, kidnappings in the province increased by 15.8% from 2,085 in the fourth quarter of the 2023/2024 financial year to 2,414 in the same quarter for the 2024/2025 year. Gauteng is a major contributor nationally with 52.8%. The worst is that 20 of the top 30 police stations for kidnapping cases nationally are in Gauteng.
These crime statistics confirm what the DA discovered during its recent oversight inspection at Jeppe Police Station in Johannesburg, where the criminals are exploiting the dating apps to lure and forcibly take unsuspecting victims. Another alarming trend involves foreign African nationals who use kidnapping to settle commercial disputes. In many of these cases, the victims or their families refuse to cooperate with the police, hampering efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.
These methods are evident in the sickening story of Olerato Mongale, who met her gruesome end on a first date. There is also a high-profile incident where a well-known businessman and philanthropist was abducted on 27 May in Pretoria West. A gang of armed assailants rammed into his vehicle and forcibly took him.
Despite these terrifying incidents, Premier Panyaza Lesufi has been silent and actionless. His promise of high-end technology and Crime Prevention Wardens, known as “ Amapanyaza” for fighting crime is not paying off for residents.
The DA has learned that the SAPS in the country has access to only one IMSI catcher (phone signal grabber), a crucial tool in tracking kidnappers. Most kidnapping response teams rarely get access to this device, leaving them powerless to locate victims or apprehend criminals.
The DA demands that Premier Lesufi move with speed and intention in tackling the scourge of kidnappings. The DA will be tabling questions to ascertain what equipment and training is given to law enforcement officers in Gauteng to confront kidnappers head-on.
A DA-led Gauteng government would bolster the Anti-Kidnapping Units, trained by global experts, backed by cutting-edge technology, and supported by a justice system ready to prosecute swiftly and effectively. Families of victims would have access to 24/7 victim support services.
Every hour that the Lesufi government remains inactive is an hour too long. The DA vows to continue fighting for a Gauteng where people are safe and criminals are afraid.