Police recorded 971 kidnapping cases in Johannesburg between January and March 2026, making it the policing area with the highest number of reported kidnappings in the country.
This means, on average, there are at least 11 kidnappings a day.
Nearly half the incidents were concentrated in only 10 police precincts, with Protea, Eldorado Park, Moroka, Ennerdale and Lenasia, all situated south of Johannesburg, among the hot spots.
