Travellers warned against criminals targeting Cape Town International Airport
Criminals are using the Cape Town airport as a lucrative hunting ground.
Crime in South Africa is a constant concern.
Cape Town has also seen a spike in serious incidents, most significantly gang violence.
READ: South African suburbs with the highest reports of hijackings
Now, visitors to Cape Town have been issued with another warning.
According to BusinessTech, syndicates are targeting travellers at the Cape Town International Airport.
READ: There's a new favourite car among hijackers in Gauteng
IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe questioned why there is so little visible policing around the airport in a recent parliament Q&A.
There has been a surge in criminals targeting both tourists and local motorists at intersections and traffic lights.
READ: Latest crime trends to look out for in South Africa
The Minister of Police responded by saying the border policing team is tasked with policing the airport precinct itself.
Still, many of the reported crimes are taking place outside the jurisdiction, particularly in the Nyanga area.
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He explained that these incidents may be reported at the airport, but the cases are referred to the Nyanga police because the crimes occur within their jurisdiction.
Regardless, the minister confirmed that the Nyanga police and the City of Cape Town have been instructed to establish static deployments in identified hotspots to address the growing concerns.
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BusinessTech states that 42 incidents have been reported at Cape Town International between April 1 and March 31 this year alone.
A few of the more disturbing cases include a woman who was seriously injured by a concrete block thrown at her vehicle while driving and an American tourist who was robbed and shot while travelling from the airport to Simon’s Town.
READ: Tourists nearly scammed out of over R96k near Table Mountain
Local councillors have urged authorities to take more decisive action, warning that the escalating violence not only threatens residents but also Cape Town's reputation as a tourist destination.
As usual, the problem is not contained within one part of South Africa and is part of a broader national trend.
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According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), 4,533 hijackings were reported in the most recent three-month period in 2025, which is around 50 vehicles daily.
The latest crime statistics also show 19,032 “theft out of or from motor vehicle” cases were reported in just the last quarter of the 2024/2025 period.
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This translates to approximately 211 incidents per day between January and March 2025.
Gauteng had the highest number of cases at 5,307, followed by the Western Cape with 4,978, and KwaZulu-Natal with 2,775.
Tracker, the private security and vehicle recovery company, has provided some safety tips to help reduce the risk of falling victim to a smash-and-grab.
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Their guidance comes from the acronym SMASH:
Surprise
- Criminals rely on surprise to attack, rushing cars, smashing a window, grabbing valuables and fleeing within seconds.
- They prefer areas with cover and easy escape routes, and often use an accomplice to distract drivers.
- Avoid quiet, poorly lit streets and slow-moving traffic in high-risk areas.
Microns
- Microns refers to the protective film that can be applied to car windows.
- It won't prevent a window from breaking, but it will hold fragments together, slow down the attacker, and help provide an opportunity for the driver to escape.
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Avoid
- A reminder to keep valuables out of sight: remove phones, wallets, handbags, laptops, jewellery, and jackets from seats and floors.
- Keep items in the boot or glovebox and park in secure, well-lit areas.
Safe driving
- Remain alert, avoid distractions and do not engage with street vendors.
- Look out for warning signs on the road, such as broken glass, which may indicate a previous attack has occurred.
- Do not remove obstacles in the road; instead, turn around or find an alternative route.
Help
- This highlights the importance of reporting incidents immediately.
- Crimes should be reported at the nearest police station so authorities can respond quickly.
Unfortunately, the reality is that no matter how safe drivers try to be, it is not their fault if they are a victim of crime.
The majority of the responsibility should be shared among law enforcement, government officials, and other authorities to work together and put a stop to the rampant crime in South Africa.
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