Question NW752 to the Minister of Police
30 September 2024 - NW752
Trollip, Mr A to ask the Minister of Police
(1) In light of the rising incidence of hijackings, abductions and ransom demands targeting business owners, particularly in the retail sector in the Eastern Cape, where several owners and managers have fallen victim to and/or have narrowly escaped such attacks, what measures will the SA Police Service (SAPS) implement to prevent such crimes; (2) whether the SAPS, in collaboration with the intelligence services, developed any specific plans and/or strategies to combat the specified incidents; if not, what are the reasons for the absence of such measures; if so, what are the relevant details of the strategies?
Reply:
(1) and (2) The South African Police Service (SAPS) Directorate for Priority Crime (DPCI, in the Eastern Cape Province, has implemented specific measures to address the rising incidence of hijackings, abductions and ransom demands targeting business owners, particularly in the retail sector in the Eastern Cape including:
- The establishing of a close working relationship between the DPCI, Visible Policing and Detective Service and Crime Intelligence to ensure the targeted gathering of intelligence and the conducting of intelligence-led operations.
The Province has initiated regular awareness campaigns to educate the public at large regarding the threats and modus operandi that are associated with abductions, including the need for them to adjust their personal security measures. This includes advising businesses to install cameras to have court-directed evidence, in the event of a crime of this nature being committed at the business premises.
There has also been consultation with foreigners and their community leaders to sensitize them on the issue at hand and on the need for them to co-operate with police investigations.
The Eastern Cape DPCI coordinates multi-disciplinary task teams, which are activated immediately, once a report of an abduction is received, which includes consultation with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), in order for bail to be effectively opposed and to enable court-directed investigations.