The likelihood of becoming entangled in a dangerous situation when travelling – a robbery at the airport, a car hijacking or being followed back to your hotel room isn’t definite.
But it is a possibility.
The consequences of risk, from jumping into a local taxi for a meeting across town or taking a side street for a shortcut can be high, and potentially lethal.
South Africa ranks as the 5th country globally with the highest crime index. In January to March 2025 alone, the South African Police Service reports:
▪️11,000+ common robberies
▪️19,000+ theft of/from a vehicle
Robberies are common across public transport, private taxi firms and even well-known e-hailing services. Road-related incidents in this period also include more severe cases:
Taxi-related:
- Murder: 68
- Attempted murder: 44
- GBH: 14
Hijacking/attempted hijacking:
- Murder: 39
- Attempted murder: 154
- GBH: 21
Public transport areas (bus stop/taxi rank/railway):
- Murder: 66
- Attempted murder: 71
- GBH: 211
Public transport in South Africa carries risks, and it’s important to be aware of them.
- E-hailing Apps
Reviews cite reckless driving, cancelled rides and unrefunded payments to verbal threats, robbery and assault. One common service has over 4,000 reviews averaging 1.6/5, and another 2,000+ with a result of 0/5.
- Local Taxi
Taxi-related violence is rising with conflicts between competitors and disputes over profitable routes – attacks on customers, poorly maintained vehicles, frequent accidents and even kidnappings at ATMs. Operators may engage in illegal activity to generate income, such as drug trafficking or armed robbery.
- Car Hire
Vehicle rentals carry risks – scams like hidden fees and false damage claims to on-road threats such as spiking or hijacking. Stay extra vigilant at night, when stopping at traffic, and watch for obstacles on the road.
- Unregulated Cars
There are cases of unregulated drivers posing as metered taxis, a front for scammers often resulting in robbery.
- Bus, Minibus & Coaches
There is a high risk of robbery and theft on public transport, with pedestrian waiting areas a hotspot for crimes.
Corporations have a Duty of Care to staff, especially when travelling. Investing in safe journey management helps prevent harm and reduces potential future costs.
All our Secure Drivers are trained in advanced and defensive driving, hijack prevention, counter-surveillance and first aid. All are subject to strict recruitment criteria and pass an intensive selection process.
Supported by our 24/7 GSOC team, drivers have local knowledge of safe routes, well-maintained roads and are informed on live protests and unrest activity – ensuring you are kept out of harm’s way.
https://securedrive.co.za/ is trusted by business travellers, NGOs and corporates who prioritise their safety. If a safer alternative is available, why roll the dice?