Get the latest news on Hijacking with Cartrack

In the January-March 2025 quarterly crime statistics, the SAPS revealed that 4 533 hijackings were reported across South Africa. This amounts to about 50 hijackings per day, which is lower than the same period the previous year. Although numbers have slightly dropped, hijackings remain a huge concern in our country, and protecting your car is essential.

The Toyota Hilux is currently the most hijacked car model in South Africa because of its durability and resale value. The VW Polo comes in second due to a high demand for parts, and in third place is the Toyota Fortuner, which excels in off-road capability and value in other markets.

Hijackings are caused by a combination of social, economic, and criminal factors. The high levels of unemployment in South Africa push some people toward crime as a source of income. There’s also a high demand for car parts in the informal markets, making it a lucrative “business”. Hijackers also use the stolen vehicles as gateways for performing other crimes.

At Cartrack we help you prevent your car from being hijacked by offering solutions like the panic button, which silently alerts our control room agents, ensuring you get immediate help. Our GPS trackers, backup units, and anti-jamming technology increase your car's visibility, ensuring that thieves don’t get away with the crime.

The carjacking hotspots in South Africa are:

1. KwaZulu-Natal: Durban Central, Umlazi, Bhekithemba, and Inanda.
2. Gauteng: Ivory Park, Mamelodi East, Akasia, Jabulani, Moroka, Pretoria West, Sandringham, Vosloorus and Tembisa.
3. Western Cape: Nyanga, Delft, Mfuleni, Lingelethu-West, Harare, and Philippi East.

The colour trend in carjacking in South Africa is that white cars are said to be the most hijacked in South Africa, but it’s because they’re more common. Black cars are harder to spot, making them a great target for theft. Brightly coloured cars are the least hijacked because they aren’t too common and they are easy to notice.

The stages of hijacking are:

• Selection: When the thieves look for potential targets and identify vulnerabilities.
• Initiation: When the attackers plan a situation to force you to stop, e.g., a fake accident.
• Intimidation: Once you’ve stopped, they use weapons to gain control and demand that you exit.
• Exploitation: When they take a vehicle, often with some of your belongings.

If you’re being hijacked, try to remain calm and make sure that you do what you’re told. Criminals are more likely to let you go unharmed when you comply with their demands. Once you’re out of harm's way, immediately call Cartrack on 011 250 3000 and press option 2 for emergencies.

If your car has been hijacked, Cartrack will assist you by sending a team of skilled recovery agents to find it and get it back to you as soon as possible. We’ve got anti-jamming technology that ensures that your car’s location remains visible to us, despite criminal attempts to conceal it.

The Cartrack emergency number is 011 250 3000, select option 2 for emergency. Our control room agents are always available 24/7 and will answer your call as soon as possible. Once the call is answered, try to remain calm and give the agents as many details as possible about the incident.

The amount of time it takes to get your car back depends on the details of your case. Each recovery has its own turnaround time depending on the circumstances surrounding the theft. Some cars are reported stolen hours after the incident, which gives criminals a chance to go further and may extend the time it takes for a recovery.

Yes, Cartrack is a reliable company because it’s been offering its services to millions of people for over twenty years and has an impressive track record. In the last decade, we’ve recovered over 100 000 vehicles. We also currently hold the highest trust index on Hello Peter, giving you more reason to trust us.