Gauteng crime stats: Police raise alarm over spike in kidnappings

A report by Gauteng police has revealed an alarming increase in kidnappings in the province.

Provincial police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni delivered crime statistics in a sitting of the legislature on Thursday. 

The province has recorded an overall drop of more than 8,000 cases in the third quarter, but crimes like attempted murder and possession of illegal firearms remain a concern. 

According to the stats, 52 more kidnapping cases were reported in Gauteng between October and December last year, bringing the total number of such cases to over 2,500. 

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Mthombeni said the kidnapping was carried out in different ways, including the capture of people while they are being hijacked, which were more than 1,300 cases. 

"...It is followed by robbery, there we have recorded 455, but when you check kidnapping for ransom, it's 138. 

Mthombeni said these numbers are worrisome. 

He said that while some kidnappings were carried out by syndicates, others were done by two individuals in isolation.