Social media is often flooded with missing person posts. A lot of those missing people may be victims of kidnapping.

Statistics from SAPS Crime Registrar, ISS analysis from April 2023 to March 2024 indicate why and what the cause is for kidnapping in South Africa.

• The percentage of kidnappings due to human trafficking is 0.4%.
• The percentage of kidnappings due to extortion is 0.5%.
• The percentage of kidnappings due to other reasons is 0.7%.
• The percentage of kidnappings due to obtain information is 1%.
• The percentage of kidnappings due to children removed from guardian without permission is 2%.
• The percentage of kidnappings due to vigilantism/ mob justice is 2%.
• The percentage of kidnappings due to argument/ misunderstanding/ provocation/ fight is 3%.
• The percentage of kidnappings due to during commission of another crime, including murder is 4%.
• The percentage of kidnappings due to ransom demanded is 4%.
• The percentage of kidnappings due to revenge/ punishment is 7%.
• The percentage of kidnappings due to rape/ sexual offence-related is 10%.
• The percentage of kidnappings due to robbery-related is 22%.
• The percentage of kidnappings due to hijacking-related is 44%.