Hijackings in SA: Here’s the country’s most targeted car

Hijacking in SA is largely based on demand and supply. Toyota seems to be in high demand.

The demands of the black market inform the specific vehicles targeted by hijackers.

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Toyota in high demand

According to Business Tech the following vehicles are in high demand in SA:

• Toyota Fortuner,
• Toyota Hilux,
• Toyota Corolla Cross,
• Toyota RAV 4,
• VW Polo,
• Nissan NP200, and
• Ford Ranger.       

In addition to these vehicles, utility vehicles and trucks for cargo are also in high demand, according to Fidelity Services Group CEO Wahl Bartmann. Bartmann noted the Hyundai H100 has been targeted increasingly.

Statista confirmed this data. As per their statistics, Toyota was the most common brand of car in hijackings in SA in 2023. Of all the reported hijacked vehicles, close to 32% were Toyota. Volkswagen contributed around 14% of all hijacking cases. These brands are also the most popular cars among SA motorists.

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Where are victims targeted?

Bartmann said that most hijackers target victims at, or close to, their homes and workplaces.

According to Youlon Naidoo, MiWay Insurance Executive Head, the most common place of hijackings in SA is right outside the motorist’s home in the driveway.

“An estimated 71% of SA car hijackings occur in residential driveways. Our internal data reveals that most hijackings take place within a 5-km radius, mainly between 18h00 and 21h00,” he said.

As a result, Naidoo encouraged motorists to make sure that no one is following them when driving home. Commonly targeted areas are shopping malls and airports. Naidoo advised that motorists should stay vigilant. Attackers are likely to learn your travel patterns and routines. Therefore, he recommended to not follow the same route home every day.

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