By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African Police Services (SAPS) have shot and killed three alleged kidnappers during a confrontation in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Friday afternoon.
National SAPS spokersperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the deceased kidnapped a Chinese national in June 2025 and tried to abduct another businessman in Gauteng last week.
“They were reportedly on their way to commit a robbery when Saps intercepted them,” said Mathe.
Police have launched further investigations into the kidnapping syndicate believed to be operating in the province.
Deputy Commissioner General Fred Kekana said law enforcement officials noticed a suspicious vehicle and tried to stop it; the suspects opened fire on the police and were fatally wounded.
Kekana said one of the suspects is linked to a 2023 cash-in-transit heist.
“On the 6th of April 2023, in Sebokeng, nine suspects were fatally wounded, and two were arrested, and through those two arrested, that’s what led us to know who the other suspect is, who managed to escape.”
He said an investigation is underway to determine the authenticity of the vehicles’ licence plates and whether they were stolen.
Kekana confirmed that two firearms were found in the car and that a further search of the vehicles will take place upon the clearing of the scene.
The crime statistics, covering the fourth quarter from 1 January to 31 March 2025, exposed a troubling trend: kidnappings in Johannesburg have soared and sharp increases have been recorded all over the city.
Half of Johannesburg’s police stations are in the top 30 nationwide for reported kidnappings and five – Johannesburg Central, Moroka, Roodepoort, Jabulani and Midrand – rank among the top eight.
All the police stations in Johannesburg on the list of 30 recorded increases in kidnappings with the exception of four: Germiston and Kempton Park had a decline of 11 and 10 cases respectively, Randburg had six fewer kidnappings and Evaton five.
According to the Institute of Security Studies (ISS), kidnappings have increased by 264% in the past decade.
“Gauteng records 52.8% of all reported kidnappings in the country,” said crime manager Lizette Lancaster. “ISS analysis of the Gauteng kidnapping statistics shows that about 80% are driven by so-called express kidnappings perpetrated during robberies such as carjackings, truckjackings and business or residential robberies.
This involves holding the victim captive until funds can be extracted from bank cards or via mobile apps and even demanding ransoms from relatives. Some are also linked to extortion attempts against business owners.”