Kidnapping In South Africa and Insurance.
Kidnap and human trafficking in South Africa is not a new phenomenon, in fact going way back however proper statistics were studied from 2014 onwards.
Quoting from the Institute for Security Studies article by Lizette Lancaster on 1 Nov 2020 on google, kidnapping increased from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 with a massive 133%. 2039 cases in 2010/2011 to 6632 in 2019/2020.
The exponential rise in kidnappings can be attributed to gangs earning more than R 1 billion in 2020 alone, and the number is on the increase, according to an article in the City Press. Taking into consideration that this might only be the beginning as many kidnappings are not reported out of fear and a ransom amount is paid. In the Businesses tech of 16/11/21, National police spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo and I quote says “police officers have been colluding with kidnappers, but he could not tell the figure”
This is such a gloomy picture, which can create fear and anxiety especially like the four Moti brothers in Limpopo recently, and one year old just after that. This is every parent’s worst nightmare, are their children safe, even en route to, at school or on the way back home, what even if they go and play even in a communal area in an estate.
The family of victims must not, and I repeat must not run to social media, get help from specialized units at the South African Police.
This Moti brothers case considered, parents must know Insurance is available, a very specialist insurance type, Kidnap and Ransom, which gives various levels of cover, and with-it professional negotiators. I would suggest parents, businesses, and whosoever require this cover to talk to their insurance broker – it is not going to get better.