Over the course of last year and the first half of 2024, security groups and insurers have highlighted that hijackings are on the rise, and bright or unusual colours are no longer a deterrent.

Fidelity ADT confirmed that within the Fidelity footprint, the number of hijackings recorded during the first half of 2024 increased compared to the corresponding periods during 2023 and the second half of 2023.

According to data from the South African Police Services (SAPS), there are 66 reported car hijackings every day, marking a significant 34% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels.

The statistics show that approximately half of these incidents take place in Gauteng, while the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal each account for about 14% of the total.

It’s important to highlight that these statistics only cover hijackings involving violence or coercion against the driver.

The data reveals that there are approximately 10,000 vehicle thefts reported per quarter, which amounts to about 40,000 thefts annually.

This information sheds light on the concerning issue of car-related crimes in South Africa.

Vehicle hijackings are often described as largely a business driven by demand and supply. As a result, hijackers target specific vehicles for a specific purpose and market.

Within the Fidelity footprint, these are the top five vehicles currently being targeted:

• White Nissan Almera
• White VW Polo
• White Toyota Hi-Ace
• White Nissan NP200
• Grey/blue/white Toyota Corolla

In the recent past, white and silver vehicles were most often targeted, as per the black market’s demand, which often reflects the mainstream market trends.

However, there has been an increased demand for non-traditional coloured vehicles on the road.

As a result, vehicles with non-traditional colours, including orange and yellow, have started being targeted more regularly.

Traditionally, bright-coloured cars were considered unpopular among hijackers as they stood out easily compared with silver or white cars, making them harder to hide from tracking companies and the authorities.

However, Cartrack, a prominent car-tracking company, said the theft of car components has become more widespread than the theft of entire vehicles.

It said the high demand for affordable, readily available parts on the black market drives this trend, as these parts are easier to conceal and harder to trace than whole cars.

This could explain why colour isn’t much of a deterrent anymore.

This is because experienced syndicates with designated chop shops can dismantle any car in minutes.

Cartrack noted criminals steal vehicle components effortlessly, with four wheels capable of being removed in five minutes, airbags and tailgates in two minutes, and a battery disconnected in as little as one minute.

The tracking company noted that airbags, batteries, tailgates, wheels, and tyres are among the most stolen parts.

Cartrack reported incidents of stolen vehicles that were later found completely stripped, indicating the lucrative trade value of illegal chop shops and stolen car parts, which has been estimated at about R442 million.

This unlawful practice is seen as a quicker and more profitable alternative to reselling stolen vehicles.

Tracker has commented on the latest hijacking hotspots, stating that while shopping malls are still a primary hotspot for thefts in South Africa, their data also shows that sporting and school events are primary hunting grounds for hijackings and car thefts across the country.

Source: BusinessTech 

With about 66 cars hijacked a day, many insurers now insist that certain vehicles have tracking devices installed before granting cover.

Car hijackings have been on the rise since 2020. According to Tracker’s latest Vehicle Crime Index, hijackings accounted for 55% of all vehicle crime incidents.

The latest SAPS crime statistics show there were 5 973 carjackings in the fourth quarter of 2023.

“This equates to about 66 cars being hijacked per day, which represents an increase of 34% over pre-pandemic levels,” says Marius Kemp, head of Personal Lines Insurance at Santam.

Gauteng is the worst region in South Africa for this type of crime. Of the almost 6 000 cars hijacked in the fourth quarter of 2023, half (3 010, or 50.4%) were from Gauteng. The Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal were the next worst-hit provinces, at about 14% each.

“These statistics are only for hijackings, involving some sort of violence or coercion against the driver. Total vehicle thefts are around 10 000 per quarter, or about 40 000 annually,” Kemp says.

A hijacking trend highlighted in the 2022/23 Santam Insurance Barometer Report showed there has been a shift from older, low-value vehicles with limited security features to more expensive double cabs and SUVs.

“The hi-tech features on newer, higher-end cars often aren’t the deterrent one would think. For example, cars with keyless entry have become specific targets for criminals, who are able to intercept the signal coming from the driver’s remote,” Kemp says.

Facing a post-pandemic spike in car theft claims, insurance companies, including Santam, have introduced mandatory hijacking and theft countermeasures.

Santam says these measures proved effective. The short-term insurer’s personal lines hijacking claims were down by 24% in the first half of 2023, and vehicle theft claims were down by 19%.

Kemp says having a tracking device won’t prevent a car from being stolen, but will, in most cases, ensure a rapid recovery. He adds that even if a vehicle owner isn’t compelled to by an insurer, consumers and businesses should consider the substantial benefits these devices offer.

Apart from the high chance of recovery, Santam lists the following benefits of installing a tracking device:

• Reduction in insurance premiums. “The reduction will depend on your risk profile, type of vehicle and where you live, but all other things being equal, a car owner with a tracking device will pay a lower premium each month than a car owner without one,” Kemp says. “In some cases, the monthly discount on the premium will be higher than the monthly cost of the device.”
• Less downtime. Quick recoveries mean that in many cases, consumers and businesses are not left stranded without transportation for long periods.
• Roadside assistance. The tracking subscription may include a roadside assistance service in the event of a breakdown, although insurers generally offer this service on vehicle policies whether there is a tracking device or not.
• Additional features and services. Depending on the option, the service may include app-based tracking in real time, a trip logbook and, for businesses, fleet management.

“The more South Africans can be proactive in thwarting criminals, the more we can bring down the crime levels in our country, and one way to do that is by installing a tracking device in your car,” Kemp states.

Source: Moonstone

Why young South Africans also need insurance

South Africans are unfortunately notoriously bad savers. A recent study showed that less than 30% of people save toward an emergency fund for when something unexpected – and costly – occurs. For young people specifically, who are still building up their financial means, not having a fall-back for when things go wrong could be seriously costly.

This is according to Marius Kemp, Head of Personal Lines Underwriting at leading insurer Santam, who says that National Youth Month presents a good opportunity to remind people about the value of insurance and the freedom it provides for peace of mind.

“Insurance is traditionally seen as a grudge purchase, particularly amongst 18- to 25-year-olds who are starting their exciting career and financial journeys”.

“Coupled with this, most South Africans do not have a ‘rainy day fund’ for emergencies. Typically, most young people who are still working on starting to build savings, would not have R20 000 to R100 000 (or more) saved up and waiting to cover the cost of vehicle damages following an accident or paying for another third-party vehicle, or to cover theft or damages to assets and movable items such as laptops and high-end mobile phones. Arguably, young people need insurance even more than more established adults with a nest egg”.

Kemp explains that young people need insurance in order to protect their assets, have protection from legal liability and to build an insurance profile as they are in the beginning journey of their lives.

“This is especially important because, in general, younger individuals are perceived as a slightly higher risk – depending on which phase of their lives they are in. Starting to build a good insurance profile early on will be beneficial – much like a good credit history. It may also help to bring down premiums in the longer term, which are typically higher amongst 18 to 25 year olds due to the higher risk profile.”

Speaking about factors that are considered when determining an individual’s risk profile, Kemp says that previous claims history is very important. He adds that specific client profile data such as age, location and security measures of the risk, size of insured assets in terms of value, and the type of insured items especially related to vehicles are all considered by insurers.

According to claims trends from Santam, young people primarily tend to claim for house contents, personal effects such as portable technological equipment (including cell phones and laptops) and vehicle claims.

“The frequency and severity of vehicle claims for young people (18 – 25) are much higher than older clients. We would suggest that young drivers take out products that help to promote good driver behaviour where they can monitor and strive to improve their day-to-day driving.”

To improve their risk profile and possibly bring down their monthly premiums Kemp suggests that young people:

• Opt for a voluntary excess to bring down premiums;
• Beef up home and general security to be better than the minimum required;
• Install a telematics device which can also help reduce the vehicle premiums;
• Keep claims to minimum by self-insuring the low value claims would result in a lower premium increase at renewal.

When comparing insurance policies from different insurers, Kemp urges young South Africans to ensure they are comparing apples with apples.

“Looking carefully at excess structure, type of cover provided, value added services, claim overturn ratio, and reputable claim paying record especially in terms of widespread catastrophes is critical when deciding on an insurer.”

He concludes that brokers have sound knowledge of the insurance environment – and the specific needs of young people.

“A good insurance broker will give good advice on insurance matters to help you secure a product that fits into your life and budget and – most importantly – gives you the freedom to seize life’s opportunities”.

Source: FA News

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has warned Gauteng motorists that criminals are taking advantage of non-operating traffic lights plaguing the roads to steal valuables from cars caught in the traffic.

Despite a recent break-in load-shedding, many areas within the City of Johannesburg are currently plagued with non-functioning traffic lights.

This has led to an accumulation of traffic at these intersections, causing severe congestion that can last for hours.

The resulting traffic delays have created a perfect opportunity for criminals to carry out smash-and-grab incidents, leaving many motorists feeling vulnerable and unsafe.

According to Gauteng law enforcement, thieves disguise themselves as beggars or vendors, scout vehicles in traffic for accessible personal belongings, and strike at the first opportunity.

Additionally, Security experts noted that traffic lights across the country remain a hotspot for hijackings and cautioned South African motorists to stay alert while filling up, note their surroundings and suspicious characters in the area, and keep their doors locked.

Areas flagged by law enforcement for these crimes include:

• Alexandra
• Beyers Naude Drive
• Crown Interchange
• Diepsloot
• Johannesburg CBD
• Malibongwe Drive
• Midrand
• Moroka (Soweto)
• Orange Farm
• Randburg

The recent spate of smash-and-grab incidents has followed another similar one that recently occurred on the M1 freeway in Johannesburg.

During the rush hour traffic on the M1-M2 freeway split, a group of armed robbers took advantage of the gridlock traffic and robbed several motorists at gunpoint.

The motorists had nowhere to go and were forced to surrender their valuables, including cell phones.

According to reports, the criminals behind this act are believed to be part of illegal mining operations in the area.

This incident has raised concerns about the safety of people who commute on the highways in Gauteng during peak-hour traffic.

In response to the incident, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has ordered a maximum mobilisation of officers along Gauteng highways and other strategic locations during peak hours to avoid such incidents in the future.

The SAPS Highway Patrol, SAPS Airwing, and Gauteng Flying Squad units have also been assigned to conduct regular patrols on routes identified as high-risk.

This move by the SAPS aims to ensure the safety of commuters and prevent such incidents from happening again.

Speaking to eNCA, the spokesperson for the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), Xolani Fihla, said the increased police patrols on dangerous roads have yielded both positive and negative results.

While minor crimes have decreased, the JMPD has noticed an increase in serious vehicle-related crimes.

Fihla stated that smash-and-grab incidents have reduced, but crimes like robberies with aggravating circumstances have increased.

The JMPD advises motorists to remain vigilant on the road and report any crimes they witness to help the authorities catch the thieves.

Source: Affluencer

Hijackers in South Africa commonly target Fords, Nissans, Toyotas, and VWs, which are in high demand on the black market across the continent.

This is according to Fidelity Services Group CEO Wahl Bartmann, who told BusinessTech earlier this year that vehicle hijackings are largely a business driven by demand and supply.

For example, While these models have historically been at high risk, the RAV 4 and Toyota Corolla Cross have climbed the high-risk scale, with the Corolla Cross only having been launched in the country in November 2021.

Since then, the crossover has consistently been on the best-selling lists over the course of 2023/24 – selling over 22,000 and earning fourth place on Naamsa’s top 10 list of best-selling cars last year.

It has remained within the top five through most of the first half of 2024. This remains true for other Toyoas (such as the Hilux), VWs (Polos), and Fords (the Ranger).

“Hijackers target specific vehicles for a specific purpose and market. The demand for Toyotas, VWs, Fords, and Nissans remains high on the black market,” he said.

As a result, Bartmann highlighted the most hijacked cars among these brands – based on the Fidelity SecureDrive base for 2023.

According to Fidelity’s latest data, the seven most high-risk models, in no specific order, are:

• Toyota Fortuner (GD6 and D4D);
• Toyota Hilux (GD6 and D4D);
• Toyota Corolla Cross;
• Toyota RAV 4;
• VW Polo (especially hatchbacks);
• Nissan NP200; and
• Ford Ranger (both double and single cabs).

It has been reported that the Fortuner and Hilux vehicles are stolen mostly for their engines, while the Corolla Cross and RAV4 are primarily taken across the border into neighbouring countries.

This is because these vehicles are well-equipped to handle African roads. Evidence of interest in cars that can manage the harsh road conditions in Africa by criminals was also mentioned by insurer Santam.

Its report noted a shift away from older, low-value vehicles with limited security requirements to more expensive double cabs and SUVs, including Toyota Landcruisers and Prados.

This aligned with the experiences of private security companies such as Fidelity ADT.

According to Fidelity, around 30% of all stolen and hijacked vehicles in the last year were taken across the border from South Africa.

Hotspot areas

In South Africa, the number of car hijackings has been increasing every year, with some provinces experiencing a greater rise in hijackings than others.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) recently presented the latest quarterly crime statistics from October to December 2023.

According to the report, 5,973 cars were hijacked during this three-month period, equivalent to approximately 66 cars being stolen daily.

This figure represents a 6.5% increase from the same period in 2022.

Carjackings are most common in South Africa’s most populated regions, such as Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, and the Western Cape.

The top hijacking hotspots for the three most populated provinces are listed below.

Gauteng:

1. Ivory Park
2. Moroka
3. Loate
4. Orange Farms
5. Eldorado Park

Kwa-Zulu Natal:

1. Umlazi
2. Mariannhill

Western Cape:

1. Philippi East
2. Harare
3. Nyanga
4. Mfuleni
5. Delft

Source: BusinessTech

With fuel increases and the rise in the cost of living in almost every other area of life, many homeowners may be concerned about their finances. Photographer: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers.

Households in South Africa seem to have no reprieve as they continue to face hard-hitting increases that impact their cost of living, including interest rates, electricity tariffs and rocketing food and fuel prices.

Earlier this month, South African motorists were hit hard at the petrol pumps once again by a significant fuel price increase of R1.21 cents per litre for both grades of fuel, 95 and 93 ULP and LRP.

With these increases and the rise in the cost of living in almost every other area of life, many homeowners may be concerned about their finances.

Given this impact, households may be looking for ways to cut down on expenditure to meet their monthly payment commitments.

One area you might be tempted to cut is home and car insurance but Dr Hardy Ncube from Standard Bank Insurance warns consumers to think twice before cancelling their insurance coverage as this may have far-reaching consequences and could lead to huge expenses in the long run.

Instead, he advises that people look at smarter, less risky ways to manage their expenses.According to Ncube, Standard Bank Insurance understands that South Africans are battling severe financial pressure.

Hip-hop is the most distracting music genre, with albums by artists Young Thug, Doja Cat, Future, Gunna, 2 Chainz and Metro Boomin scoring in the top 10 highest for distraction

Researchers ranked the tunes on criteria including loudness, beats per minute and how energetic the song is – which can affect driver focus – to get to the “distraction score”.
Image: Alessandro Cinque

Motorists wanting a smooth and safe commute are advised to steer clear of hip-hop and Afrobeat tracks, which have emerged as the most distracting music genres and can race your heartbeat faster than your odometer.

R&B and gospel tend to be the least distracting, according to research commissioned by Budget Insurance, analysing newly released Spotify Wrapped data on South Africa’s most streamed songs and artists of 2023.

Researchers ranked the tunes on criteria, including loudness, beats per minute and how energetic the song is — which can affect driver focus — to get to the “distraction score”.

Three of the most-streamed South African songs scored more than 70% on the distraction scale: Mthandeni SK’s Paris (79%)’, Dave’s Sprinter (72%) and Rema’s Calm Down (72%).

Young Thug’s ‘Business is Business’ could head the traffic distraction parade, making you question if you’re driving or competing in a rap battle.
Image: Supplied

Hip-hop and amapiano songs by Soa Mattrix, Gunna, Lil Durk, Lady Zamar, Drake, 21 Savage, Latinover Pounds and Kabza De Small also rank highly for distraction, “so these musical troublemakers could take your car for a wilder ride than you bargained for”, the study found.

Other songs not a good idea in rush-hour traffic include Young Thug’s Business is Business and Doja Cat’s Scarlet.

Kabza De Small’s Isimo brings amapiano to the list, “turning your commute into a dance-off on wheels,” the study found, while Future’s Wait For You may make you anything but patient with its beat. These artists’ albums have average distraction scores of more than 60.

The research found that Yahyuppiyah by Uncle Waffles has the lowest distraction score of 33.92%. The artist also scores a smooth ride with Peacock Revisit. 

De Mthuda’s Sgudi Snyc will sync with your ride as do home-grown gems Spirit Of Praise’s gospel hit Thath’Indawo and Kelvin Momo’s Sukakude.

Based on accident claims data for 2023, the safest drivers hail from the Northern Cape, Free State and Limpopo.

For cities, the best drivers are in Rustenburg, Centurion and Pietermaritzburg.

KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng recorded the highest number of car crashes, with Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town the cities with the least safe drivers.

There is a caveat though.

“When considering car accident trends over the past two years, the provinces that have seen the biggest percentage increases in number of claims were Mpumalanga (+31%), Western Cape (+22%) and Gauteng (+21%), with Centurion (+54%), Rustenburg (+39%) and Cape Town (+36%),” the insurer said.

East London, Rustenburg, Centurion and Pietermaritzburg have the lowest accident claims.
Image: Budget Insurance

Tips for driving like a ‘good South African’:

• Volume control: lower the beat and avoid a traffic jam in your mind. Loud music impairs your focus and prevents you picking up important traffic cues around you. So, turn down the volume and drive with clarity.
• Melodic mood booster: create a playlist or choose a radio station that uplifts your mood and encourages a relaxed mindset. R&B, gospel and amapiano are among the least distracting music genres.
• Calm commute: avoid raging symphonies or rock concerts. It’s not advisable to drive when you’re frustrated or angry. For example, AC/DC’s Thunderstruck hits 133bpm which can set your heart rate racing.
• The quiet drive: sometimes silence is golden. On occasion you should try to tune out entirely to ease the stress and enjoy a peaceful drive without music.
• Keep your eye on the prize: that means the road. Did you know South Africa has one of the highest road crash rates in the world with about 25% caused by cellphone use?

Source: TimesLIVE