KZN transport MEC warns dealers over buying hijacked state vehicles

KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma has warned used-car dealerships that they will face severe consequences for buying hijacked or stolen state vehicles after the recovery this week of a hijacked Department of Transport double-cab bakkie.

Recovery and arrest

The double-cab bakkie was hijacked on Tuesday and recovered in Azalea Township in Pietermaritzburg about 24 hours later. One person was arrested in connection with the incident.

Operation Shanela and enforcement

Duma commended his Operation Shanela team for what he described as a “decisive, intelligence-driven execution” of the #NenzaniLaEzweni Operation. He said Operation Shanela and Road Traffic Inspectorate teams are working with all law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with any re-emergence of state vehicle hijackings.

Warning to dealers and communities

Addressing the market for stolen vehicles, Duma said:

“We are warning society and used car dealerships that there will be severe consequences for buying stolen state cars. Any market for stolen vehicles is the root cause of car hijackings, with young, vulnerable youth being recruited to work for syndicates behind the racket.”

Where stolen vehicles end up

Duma said he had been informed that when stolen and hijacked state vehicles are not dismantled in chop shops, they are often sold to other provinces and neighbouring countries. He added that the department had put measures in place to protect a total of 8,991 state vehicles.

National carjacking picture

The South African Police Service national crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year showed that between January and March 2026 there were 3,609 carjacking incidents reported across South Africa. In KwaZulu-Natal 446 incidents were reported in that period, while Gauteng recorded 2,062 incidents.

The quarterly statistics named Johannesburg’s Alexandra area as the highest among the top 30 police stations for carjackings with 63 incidents, and placed KZN’s Umlazi at 5th with 52 incidents.

Vehicles and trends

The statistics noted that popular vehicles targeted in hijackings include the Toyota Hilux and Volkswagen Polo, and more recently the Kia Picanto, Isuzu D-Max, and Toyota Corolla Cross. The Ford Ranger was also listed among commonly targeted vehicles.

Quarterly crime figures showed a decrease in carjacking incidents when comparing January–March 2022 (5,402 incidents) with January–March 2025 (4,533 incidents). The latest two quarters, however, indicated that vehicle hijackings in South Africa remain alarmingly high, with little sign of easing.