Gauteng logged 2,367 kidnapping cases between April and June 2026, making the province the epicentre of a national surge in abductions, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety said during a stakeholder engagement on 18 September.
Kempton Park worst-affected precinct
Within the province, Kempton Park recorded the highest number of kidnappings for the quarter, with 76 cases reported compared with 48 in the same period in 2025 — a 58.3% increase. Nationally, South Africa recorded 4,638 kidnappings in the quarter, meaning Gauteng accounted for more than half of those incidents.
The spike has intensified concern after the South African Police Service issued a warning on 12 September asking women in and around Kempton Park — particularly the Rhodesfield area — to exercise extreme caution following the discovery of several bodies of women in the same locality over roughly two months.
“The figures are particularly concerning given the recent discovery of the bodies of several women in the broader Ekurhuleni area,” the Portfolio Committee on Community Safety said during the meeting.
Committee calls for intensified response
The Portfolio Committee said the high figures demand "intensified policing, intelligence-led investigations and visible interventions to protect residents." The stakeholder engagement on 18 September was convened to interrogate the prevalence, causes and impact of kidnapping across the province.
According to the Committee, kidnappings in Gauteng take various forms, including incidents linked to hijackings where victims are unlawfully restrained or taken during vehicle-related crimes.
- Province total (Apr–Jun 2026): 2,367 kidnappings
- Kempton Park (Apr–Jun 2026): 76 kidnappings
- Same quarter 2025 in Kempton Park: 48 kidnappings
- National total (Apr–Jun 2026): 4,638 kidnappings
Local anxiety and accountability
Residents in Kempton Park have expressed fear, anger and dissatisfaction amid the discoveries and the rising kidnapping figures. The Committee stressed that, while investigations into the deaths are ongoing, the kidnapping statistics themselves require immediate action from law enforcement and other role-players.
Calls from the Committee for more visible policing and intelligence-driven operations point to concerns that standard patrols alone may not be reducing organised or opportunistic abduction patterns. The meeting also aimed to bring stakeholders together to map interventions, improve community policing relations and strengthen victim support pathways.
Snapshot of reported kidnapping numbers
| Area | Apr–Jun 2025 | Apr–Jun 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kempton Park | 48 | 76 | +58.3% |
| Gauteng (total) | — | 2,367 | — |
| South Africa (total) | — | 4,638 | — |
Residents told local media they have seen increased police visibility in some areas but argue that presence alone will not stop organised criminals. The Portfolio Committee’s call for targeted, intelligence-led work suggests a shift towards investigative prioritisation rather than reactive deployments.
Police warnings for women to be cautious in Rhodesfield and nearby neighbourhoods have underscored the immediate risks people feel when moving about daily. Community safety activists say clear communication from SAPS about ongoing operations and outcomes is essential to restore trust. The Committee has asked for an urgent, coordinated response involving law enforcement, municipal authorities and community structures.
As inquiries continue into the bodies discovered in the broader Ekurhuleni area, the Committee urged speedier case resolution and stronger victim support to address both the crimes and the fear spreading through affected communities.
For now, the statistics place Gauteng — and Kempton Park in particular — at the centre of a growing national discussion on how to curb kidnapping and protect vulnerable residents.
