The statistics on kidnappings in South Africa are disheartening and worrying

According to the South African Police Service crime statistics for 2023/2024, as many as 4,300 cases of kidnapping were reported between July and September, while 293 children and 881 women were murdered in the last quarter of 2023.

Reports that South Africa has the highest kidnapping rate of any African country, with approximately 9.58 kidnappings per 100,000 people, are disheartening and deeply disturbing.

Over the years we have seen an increase in lawlessness and criminals getting away with their crimes. Lack of action by law enforcement agencies indirectly encourages more crime in the country.

The ACDP calls on the government to take new, innovative measures to put an end to these kidnappings, which also lead to an increase in extortion.

When children go to school in the morning, parents do not have to worry that some will not come home because of this evil practice of kidnapping. And when parents go to work, children do not have to doubt that they will never see their children again because of the evil gangs.

The ACDP further calls on the government to introduce minimum sentences for crimes such as kidnapping, extortion and membership of mafia gangs, such as the construction mafia, before South Africa becomes a mafia state.

Criminals must learn that crime does not pay and corrupt police officers must be forced out of the police force.