Kidnapping for ransom and extortion is fast becoming a lucrative business in South Africa, with the current tough economic conditions making people increasingly desperate to find ways to make a quick buck.
Statistics released in a report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC) show that the number of kidnappings has grown alarmingly over the past year, with an average of 1143 kidnappings per month reported during the first half of 2022. This is almost double the monthly average of 700 cases reported in 2021.
Latest trends also suggest that wealthy individuals are no longer the sole targets of organised kidnapping syndicates, but that the threat now increasingly extends to family members, friends and associates.
“Previously, companies would mainly insure their executives travelling to high risk areas, against kidnapping and extortion. Now the threat extends to entire families who are at risk of being potential kidnapping victims,” says Catia Folgore, Underwriting Lead at specialist insurer iTOO Special Risks.
This is something that was recently acknowledged by one of the world’s richest men, Elon Musk, who revealed that he would be upgrading his father's security system at his home in South Africa, amid increasing fears of kidnapping. The high-profile billionaire also stated that his own safety was potentially under threat, as people posting his live location or travel plans was becoming a security issue. This, despite Musk always being surrounded by bodyguards.
Well-organised and prevalent crime
“As we have seen in recent years, kidnapping for ransom has become a very well-organised and very prevalent crime in South Africa. It is a lucrative enterprise and driven largely by the difficult economic conditions that put financial strain on many people. It is seen as an easy way to make money,” says Folgore.
She adds that tough times also mean that kidnapping for ransom is no longer just a reality faced by the rich and the famous. These days, syndicates are known to snatch anyone with the means, or the support network, to raise a ransom amount.
“As a result, we have seen ordinary people being kidnapped for ransoms as small as R500 000 or less, as long as they have family or friends who can raise the money for their release. The kidnapping syndicates are definitely expanding their market and people should be aware of this,” Folgore notes. The GI-TOC report confirms this trend, showing that many of the locations where kidnappings took place in South Africa last year were not in the wealthy suburbs of Johannesburg and Pretoria, but rather in low-income areas.
The research suggests that many cases involve average earners with no visible source of disposable money, forcing these victims to scrape together a smaller ransom amount. Often, these crimes are not even reported.
Lower-income targets
“Syndicates have come to realise that lower-income earners make for easy targets and do not draw media attention. On the other hand, higher earners also have better means at their disposal to increase their personal safety. It is not surprising then that kidnapping is becoming more prevalent in less affluent communities,” says Folgore.
She explains that kidnapping syndicates are often well organised and spend time studying and tracking their victims, knowing what their family is able to pay. It is therefore important that people remain vigilant, vary their routines, and travel routes so as not to give syndicates a chance to plan and execute a well-rehearsed kidnapping.
“Since kidnapping for ransom is no longer a crime that is targeted at high-profile individuals, it is increasingly important that people should consider insuring themselves against being abducted. Wealthy individuals should be aware that the threat extends not only to them, but also to their families,” she adds.
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