Courier vehicles in South Africa are hijacked at an alarming rate, with roughly 25 incidents reported daily, according to insights shared with Netwerk24 by logistics tech company FarEye.
With the festive season approaching, this figure is expected to climb, putting added strain on last-mile logistics providers scrambling to secure their vehicles and valuable cargo.
Local third-party logistics (3PL) operators reportedly spend 50% more than their global peers on last-mile logistics costs to cover these security risks.
FarEye’s co-founder and CEO, Kushal Nahata, noted that operators feel compelled to shoulder this significant financial burden, especially given the high risk of hijackings as demand surges in November for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.
This period typically sees an influx of up to 230,000 parcels entering South Africa – a sharp increase from the daily average of around 1,000 earlier this year, as reported by Garry Marshall, head of the South Africa Express Parcel Association (Saepa).
“Fast-moving consumer goods such as alcohol, electronics, and appliances are consistently targeted by hijackers, with the demand for these items soaring online,” Marshall remarked.
Security data shared by Tracker reveals that hijacking rates double towards year-end, with more than 55% of vehicle-related crimes involving hijackings.
Courier vehicles are especially at risk, with a heightened focus on high-value consumer goods during the festive shopping period.
Read | Courier companies move to armoured trucks to guard against hijackings
Following discussions with leading retailers like Woolworths, Pick ‘n Pay, and Massmart, FarEye found that security and fuel costs are among the highest expenses for last-mile service providers.
Roughly 60% of deliveries in the last-mile sector rely on subcontracted couriers, 20% are handled by in-house fleets, and the remainder rely on alternative solutions, according to Nahata.
As South Africa’s peak shopping season approaches, logistics providers are facing a steep climb in security expenses to keep couriers and cargo safe amid the expected spike in hijackings.
Do you have more on this story? Click to WhatsApp us. Anonymity guaranteed.
