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Car hijackings 'hit 5-yr high'
05/09/2006 22:48 - (SA)
Cape Town - Insurance industry figures show car hijackings in South Africa have hit new highs in recent months, says the Democratic Alliance.
"Insurance firms and tracking companies have indicated car hijackings have increased from 12 434 in 2004/'05 to more than 15 864 so far this year - exceeding highs last recorded in 2001/'02," said DA deputy safety and security spokesperson Ryno King on Tuesday.
The refusal by the government to lift the moratorium on crime statistics meant South Africans were forced to use other sources for an up-to-date indication of crime rates.
"Hollard Insurance has recorded a 30% to 40% increase in car-jackings between March and June, compared to last year, and increases of between 20% and 30% for July and August," said King.
A five-year high
It was clear motorists were being targeted by heavily-armed, well-organised, hi-tech gangs, and getting very little protection from the police, who were hamstrung through lack of proper leadership, training and resources.
King said: "The department of safety and security is losing the war against well-organised crime syndicates, as is shown by the fact that it has allowed car hijackings to increase by as much as 30% since last year - reaching a five-year high.".
He called on Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula to explain his claim that "at least 76 of the 96 identified crime syndicate leaders have been arrested in the past six months".
If this was the case, why had car hijackings risen, and not dropped, asked King.
- SAPA
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