Travellers heading to and from Cape Town International Airport are being warned to stay on high alert as syndicates continue to target motorists in the area.
Picture: Cape (town) Etc
Both visitors and locals have fallen victim to a surge of violent attacks at intersections and traffic lights near the airport.
As BusinessTech has reported, the issue was recently raised in parliament, where Freedom Front Plus MP Liezl van der Merwe questioned the lack of visible policing in and around the airport precinct. Her concerns echo those of many residents and tourists who have reported being ambushed en route.
Police Minister Firoz Cachalia responded by explaining that the airport’s border policing unit is only responsible for the precinct itself, while most of the incidents occur just outside its boundary in the Nyanga policing district. Although victims often report the crimes at the airport, investigations are handed over to the Nyanga SAPS.
In a bid to curb the violence, Cachalia confirmed that both the Nyanga police and the City of Cape Town have been ordered to set up static patrols at known hotspots. Yet, crime continues to rise, with 42 cases reported between 1 April and 31 March this year.
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Several recent incidents have made headlines. A woman was left seriously injured when a concrete block was hurled at her car on the N2. In another case, an American tourist was robbed and shot while driving from the airport to Simon’s Town. An elderly German couple also fell victim to armed robbers along Baden Powell Drive near Wolfgat.
Local councillors, including FF Plus’s Emre Uygun, have demanded urgent action, warning that such attacks not only endanger communities but also tarnish Cape Town’s reputation as a leading tourist destination.
The crisis reflects a wider national trend. SAPS statistics show 19,032 cases of ‘theft out of or from motor vehicle’ were reported across the country in the first quarter of 2025, an average of 211 incidents daily. Gauteng led the tally with 5,307 cases, while the Western Cape followed closely at 4,978.
Private security experts are urging motorists to take extra precautions. Vehicle recovery company Tracker has outlined safety steps under the acronym SMASH: stay alert to surprise attacks, consider protective window film (‘Microns’), avoid leaving valuables visible, practice safe driving to prevent being cornered, and always report incidents to the nearest police station.
Authorities maintain that increased deployments will help, but for now, both locals and tourists are being told to remain vigilant whenever travelling near the airport.
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