Amidst a concerning surge in violent crime rates, South Africans are increasingly turning to armoured vehicles to safeguard themselves and their families.
Police Minister Bheki Cele revealed that between October 1 and December 31, 2023, over 7,700 people fell victim to murders, marking a disturbing increase of 155 compared to the same period in the previous year.
Regional Crime Breakdown and Gang-Related Murders
Cele noted the distribution of crime, with a particularly alarming concentration of gang-related murders in the Western Cape, totaling 250 out of 268 reported cases.
Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal followed with 84, 80, and 78 gang-related murders, respectively.
Heightened Awareness and Demand for Armoured Vehicles
Yusuf Moolla, the marketing manager of Armoured Mobility, pointed out that rising crime, including kidnappings and violent attacks, is driving individuals to seek additional security through armoured vehicles.
B6 protection against sniper rifles and AK-47s is becoming increasingly preferred in such cases.
Booming Armoured Vehicle Industry
A Pretoria-based armoured vehicle manufacturer reported a staggering 50% year-on-year growth over the past three years.
The business development director, Nicol Louw, attributed this growth to the cyclical nature of the armoured vehicle market, with spikes in demand typically following major crime events, such as the KZN riots in 2021.
Soaring Crime Rates and Statistics
The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) revealed a troubling 77% increase in murders since 2012, coupled with a more than twofold rise in car hijackings from approximately 9,540 to 22,742 in 2023.
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC) has also documented a surge in targeted assassinations, surpassing two per week in 2022.
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