When you look at the latest 2025/2026 fourth-quarter crime statistics numbers released by MEC Jackie Macie and Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, it is easy to see them just as data on a page.
However, the three recent incidents in the city from late May and early June provide a terrifying look at exactly how these statistics are being driven on the ground.
In one case reported earlier this month in Emalahleni’s CBD, a motorcyclist was hijacked while making food deliveries in De La Rey Street.
According to police reports, two masked men approached the victim, one armed with a firearm.
They allegedly robbed him of his cellphone, wallet, and motorbike before fleeing the scene on June 2.
READ MORE City of Coal dominates Mpumalanga hijacking rankings as all stations hit the top 30
In another incident on the N4 on May 25, police said a motorist travelling from Limpopo was targeted after a vehicle began flashing its lights behind him, leading him to believe it was law enforcement.
After pulling over, three men approached his vehicle, asked to search it, and then forced him into the back seat at gunpoint.
The victim was reportedly blindfolded, robbed of his cellphone and banking details, and driven to a secluded area where withdrawals were made from his accounts.
Breaking news | Emalahleni carjacking risk spreads across entire policing network
— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) June 8, 2026
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A similar incident on May 29 along the N12 highlights how roadside vulnerability is being exploited.
A woman reportedly stopped after noticing a slow puncture in her tyre.
While inspecting the wheel, she was attacked by three men, strangled with a rope, and forced into her own vehicle.
They drove off with her, tied her hands, and demanded access to her banking app before stealing cash and valuables.
These incidents reflect a broader trend identified in provincial statistics.
Witbank Police Station now ranks as the highest in Mpumalanga for carjacking cases, placing 23rd nationally, while Vosman follows as the second highest in the province and 37th nationally.
The pattern extends beyond the city centre.
All Emalahleni-area stations appear in the provincial top 30 for vehicle-related theft, including Ogies at fourth, Phola at sixth, and Kriel at 26th – signalling a widespread network of vehicle crime across the coal belt rather than isolated hotspots.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the fight against crime cannot be won by the police alone. Sustainable crime reduction requires active participation from communities, businesses, civil society and all spheres of government,” officials said during the briefing on June 8.
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