Why express kidnappings are putting more South Africans at risk

IN RECENT years, kidnapping has become one of South Africa’s fastest-growing violent crimes, evolving beyond the high-profile ransom cases that traditionally dominated headlines.
Today, ordinary citizens, professionals, entrepreneurs and families increasingly find themselves exposed to what security experts describe as “express kidnappings”, which are opportunistic crimes designed to extract money quickly before victims are released.
While the public often associates kidnapping with high-value ransom demands and organised criminal syndicates, security experts warn that opportunistic and financially motivated kidnappings have become increasingly prevalent.
Risks Report: South Africa recorded 4 478 kidnappings in the first quarter of 2026 alone. More than half of these incidents (54.8%) occurred in Gauteng, underlining the province's status as the country’s most significant kidnapping hotspot.
Importantly, the report notes that kidnapping has largely resisted the broader decline seen in some other categories of violent crime, highlighting the persistence of the threat despite increased law-enforcement efforts.
Catia Folgore, Product Head: Crisis Management at iTOO Special Risks, points out that one of the biggest misconceptions is that kidnapping only affects wealthy individuals.
“The kidnapping landscape has changed considerably. While high-net-worth individuals and business leaders remain at risk, criminals are increasingly targeting opportunity rather than profile. In many c