KIDNAPPING & PERSONAL SECURITY
Kidnapping and personal security The armed kidnapping of the four young Moti brothers in South Africa in October 2021 hit global headlines. One of the many threats to personal security in a world struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and its fallout, it’s a particularly vile crime that often goes unreported, as does human trafficking and other abuses.
K
idnapping According to Lizette Lancaster of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), figures for the period April to September 2021 show that there were 4,232 kidnappings, or more than 23 a day on average, in South Africa. In her article, she says that while the kidnappings that most often make the news involve wealthy businesspeople or their family members, those committed for the purposes of extortion or ransom contribute to less than five percent, according to police statistics. The figure
14
SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022
may be higher though, she adds, since many cases aren’t reported, due to threats made by the perpetrators, noting that ‘some criminal groups specialise in kidnapping for ransom as it’s perceived as a relatively low-risk, high-reward endeavour’. “The increase in national and transnational syndicates in South Africa poses various security threats, including the potential for more kidnappings,” she warns. “Organised crime groups may commit the crime because their members include highly skilled people willing to engage in violence. Syndicates
also have firearms, vehicles, and extensive networks for moving illicit goods. Kidnappings are also rising across the country’s borders, for example, in Mozambique, and are spilling over into South Africa.” South Africa’s personal security threat landscape has changed significantly over the years, says David de Lima, Managing Director of 24/7 Security Services. “The hard lockdown period of Covid-19 was followed by a spike in incidents, and we are seeing this trend continue into 2022, partly as a result of the social-economic climate.”
securityfocusafrica.com
