The South African Police Service's (SAPS) latest quarterly crime figures for January to March 2026 show an average of 40.1 carjackings a day nationally, with the Western Cape recording 498 incidents during the three-month period.
Numbers and local hotspots
Across the 90 days SAPS recorded 3,609 carjackings. While that is a decline of 20.4% from the 4,533 incidents recorded in the same quarter a year earlier, the figures confirm persistent regional concentration. Gauteng reported the highest number of incidents—with 2,062 carjackings, accounting for 57.1% of the national total—followed by the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal (498 and 446 respectively).
At a station level, several policing precincts in the Western Cape featured among the national top 30 hotspots. The stations and their recorded carjackings for January–March 2026 include:
- Delft – 61
- Lingelethu-West – 54
- Harare – 40
Provincial breakdown
| Province | Carjackings (Jan–Mar 2026) |
|---|---|
| Gauteng | 2,062 |
| Western Cape | 498 |
| KwaZulu‑Natal | 446 |
| Mpumalanga | 212 |
| Eastern Cape | 189 |
| North West | 106 |
| Limpopo | 58 |
| Free State | 32 |
| Northern Cape | 6 |
What the numbers mean locally
The Western Cape’s total of 498 carjackings places it second nationally. For residents of Cape Town and surrounding towns, the station-level data is likely to be more immediately useful than provincial aggregates. Delft and Lingelethu-West are recorded among the busiest national hotspots, a reminder that certain areas bear a disproportionate share of vehicle-related violent crime.
Although the national drop of over 20% year‑on‑year may signal that some interventions are having effect, the Western Cape’s figures show the problem remains material. Carjackings are not only a crime statistic: they have economic and social consequences for victims, can disrupt commuter patterns and supply chains, and influence perceptions of safety in neighbourhoods and on major routes.
Policing and prevention
SAPS compiles these quarterly statistics to inform policing priorities. The data points to where resources are most needed, but it does not on its own explain underlying causes in each precinct—factors such as unemployment, gang activity, local drug markets, or weaknesses in street or route policing can differ across suburbs and towns.
- Residents should note which police station recorded incidents near them and ensure any occurrence is reported so trends remain visible to authorities.
- Motorists are advised to be vigilant at known hotspots, avoid isolated stops, lock doors immediately, and, where possible, plan routes that pass through well-lit, monitored areas.
- Business and community groups can work with local police and neighbourhood watches to share information and support targeted patrols.
The statistics also show other vehicle-related offences moved in different directions: truck hijackings fell marginally from 359 to 357, and cash‑in‑transit heists dropped from 35 to 31 cases over the same period.
Looking ahead
SAPS’ quarterly snapshot provides a starting point for deeper local analysis. For Western Cape communities already grappling with inequality and high unemployment, the persistence of carjacking hotspots underscores the need for co‑ordinated responses that combine policing, community involvement and socio‑economic interventions.
Provincial and local SAPS leadership will be under pressure to explain how resources are being deployed to reduce incidents in areas such as Delft and Lingelethu‑West and to report back on measurable impact in upcoming publications.
For residents, the immediate step remains reporting any incident at their nearest police station so that local trends are captured and addressed in future policing plans.
