Johannesburg — Gauteng has earned the alarming title of South Africa’s “Kidnapping Capital,” with nearly 53% of the nation’s reported kidnapping cases taking place in the province.
By Loxion News Staff Writer
Johannesburg — Gauteng has earned the alarming title of South Africa’s “Kidnapping Capital,” with nearly 53% of the nation’s reported kidnapping cases taking place in the province. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is now demanding urgent government action to tighten control over police uniforms and insignia, after a disturbing trend of criminals impersonating officers has surfaced.
Kidnappers Posing as Police Officers
The latest incident involved a Chinese woman who was kidnapped in June 2025 and rescued last week in Lenasia. During the rescue operation, Johannesburg Metro Police uniforms and badges were seized at the crime scene, raising red flags about how easily criminals obtain police regalia to deceive victims.
According to police, kidnappers have been using fake or stolen police uniforms, badges, and even vehicles fitted with blue lights to pose as law enforcement officers. Victims, believing they are dealing with real police, often comply—making it easier for kidnappers to carry out their crimes.
Gauteng Kidnapping Statistics on the Rise
The South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics paint a worrying picture:
- Kidnapping cases in Gauteng rose by 15.8% year-on-year.
- Reported cases increased from 2,085 in the fourth quarter of 2023/2024 to 2,414 in the same quarter of 2024/2025.
- Gauteng remains the epicentre of kidnappings, contributing 52.8% of all cases nationally.
While several victims have been rescued and suspects arrested, many families are still waiting for answers, unsure whether their missing loved ones are alive.
DA Demands Accountability and Oversight
DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Community Safety, Michael Sun MPL, has called for urgent intervention from Premier Panyaza Lesufi, National Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia, SAPS, and Metro Police.
“The processes around issuing, controlling, and destroying police uniforms are loosely managed and often go unquestioned. Criminals exploit this by impersonating law enforcement officers, deceiving the public, who often comply out of respect for the authority linked to the uniform,” said Sun.
The DA plans to table questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to establish:
- How police uniforms are issued, controlled, and destroyed.
- What requirements exist for procuring and selling uniforms.
- Whether current systems prevent uniforms from falling into criminal hands.
Proposed Solutions: Stricter Controls and Audits
Sun outlined steps a DA-led provincial safety department would take, including:
- Strengthening the manufacturing and issuance of police uniforms through authorised suppliers only.
- Introducing serial tracking systems for every badge and piece of police gear.
- Enforcing destruction protocols for damaged or surplus uniforms.
- Establishing a centralised audit and oversight system to conduct regular checks on police stations and municipal enforcement agencies.
Protecting Public Trust
The DA has praised SAPS for recent successes in rescuing victims and arresting kidnappers but stressed that more robust measures are needed to restore public trust.
As kidnapping continues to threaten Gauteng residents, stronger accountability over police uniforms and law enforcement insignia could prove a crucial step in dismantling kidnapping syndicates.
