BRITS POS – BRITS - South Africa is witnessing a concerning surge in hijackings targeting ride-hailing drivers and food and parcel delivery services.
Criminal syndicates are increasingly using these sectors as easy targets, driven by a boom in e-commerce and the high demand for fast deliveries.
What’s more disturbing is that many of these hijackings are premeditated, with criminals luring their victims by ordering rides or deliveries only to ambush them when they arrive.
This alarming trend has emerged as more consumers embrace the convenience of ordering goods, food, and transport services online, and the delivery infrastructure has expanded rapidly.
This increased activity has created a lucrative opportunity for hijackers on a daily basis.
According to recent data from the Road Freight Association (RFA), hijackings and other crimes targeting the road freight industry have spiked dramatically.
Gavin Kelly, CEO of the RFA, reports that these crimes now range from “hijacking syndicates and cargo targeting to real ‘mafia-style’ attacks on road freight vehicles.” The RFA’s operational incident index reveals that the average number of hijacking incidents per day last year was about 50% higher than in 2021.
This trend has only worsened in 2024, with the number of daily incidents skyrocketing.
In June alone, there were almost 65 reported hijacking incidents per day, compared to fewer than 20 per day just the previous year.
August saw more than 50 incidents per day, highlighting the rapid escalation of this crime wave. Kelly further explains that the surge in hijackings is being driven by well-organised syndicates, many of which are highly skilled and dangerous. The increase in online shopping and home delivery services has resulted in more vehicles on the road transporting goods, making them a prime target for criminals.
Food delivery couriers on motorbikes and parcel delivery vans are often easy prey, as they typically carry valuable items that can be quickly sold on the black market.
The growing demand for deliveries has led to more drivers, many of whom work as independent contractors, entering the industry. These drivers are often ill-equipped to handle the security risks that come with the job. As a result, criminals have exploited the vulnerabilities in the delivery and ride-hailing sectors, leading to a spike in targeted hijackings. Courier companies are acutely aware of the security risks. Craig Pitchers, CEO of The Courier Guy, explained that logistics trucks transporting bulk goods and parcel delivery vans are being forced to spend significant amounts of money on security measures. In many cases, companies must employ armed escorts to protect their vehicles and drivers.
“The rising security costs kill our margins,” said Pitchers, noting that the high expenses make it difficult for delivery companies to remain profitable in such a hostile environment. One particularly concerning tactic used by hijackers is luring drivers and couriers to a specific location by posing as customers.
Criminals will place fake orders through ride-hailing apps like Uber or food delivery platforms, then lie in wait for their unsuspecting victim to arrive.
Once the driver reaches the destination, they are ambushed, and their vehicle, motorbike, or cargo is stolen—sometimes violently.
This premeditated method is particularly effective in residential areas or secluded locations, where criminals can quickly overpower drivers and disappear with the goods. It has been increasingly employed in major cities like Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town. As this trend continues to escalate, it is clear that more needs to be done to protect the people and vehicles powering South Africa’s growing gig economy.
Whether through increased law enforcement efforts, better tracking technology, or industry-wide safety measures, addressing this threat must become a priority.
