E-Commerce Frenzy Fuels Plague of Hijackings in South Africa
As South Africa’s e-commerce market continues to boom, a new wave of opportunistic hijackers is wreaking havoc on the last-mile delivery industry, making it a lucrative game of cat and mouse.
Logistics companies are spending small fortunes on security, from hiring armed escorts to fueling armored vehicles, just to keep their goods moving. But even this costly protection is no guarantee, as hijackers target the most valuable cargo – the goods that line the shelves of South Africa’s burgeoning online retail sector.
"We’re talking about billions of rand in lost revenue and resources wasted on security," says Craig Pitchers, CEO of The Courier Guy. "It’s like they’re hijacking our profits."
The stakes are high, with South Africa’s online retail sector projected to grow to a staggering 10% of total retail sales by 2026. And the demand is only increasing, as international e-commerce giants like Amazon, Shein, and Temu pour into the market.
But as the online shopping craze intensifies, so does the crime. Diederick Stopforth, commercial executive at SkyNet Worldwide Express, reveals that there are an astonishing 20-25 hijacks per day of delivery trucks and vans, with the average haul valued at a small fortune.
"It’s like a plague," Stopforth says. "Criminals are getting bolder, and the authorities are struggling to keep up."
In response, delivery companies are forced to transport high-value products in cash-in-transit vehicles, but even these are increasingly targeted. Shootouts on the highway and bombings of cash-in-transit vehicles have become a disturbing new normal.
The South African government has responded by beefing up cash-in-transit task teams and increasing visibility on the roads. But it’s a cat-and-mouse game that’s hard to win, with criminals adapting to the ever-changing security landscape.
As the e-commerce gold rush continues to fuel South Africa’s online shopping boom, one thing is clear: the last-mile delivery industry is under siege, and the consequences are devastating.
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