CMY3706
Assignment 1 Semester 2 2026
Unique number: 357929
Due date: 18 August 2026
Types of Kidnapping in South Africa and Their Threat to Public Safety
1. Introduction
Kidnapping is committed by individuals, criminal gangs, organised syndicates and, in
some cases, people known to the victim. It involves taking or holding adults or
children against their will in homes, vehicles, public spaces, workplaces and other
locations across South Africa. The crime has become a serious security concern
because it threatens personal freedom, family safety and public confidence in law-
enforcement institutions (Herbig et al., 2021:95). South African kidnapping cases
differ according to the victim, offender, motive and method used, while financial gain
remains an important reason behind many incidents. The real extent is difficult to
establish because the available system records kidnappings under one general
crime category, without separating the different forms clearly (Herbig et al., 2021:99).
, Types of Kidnapping in South Africa and Their Threat to Public Safety
1. Introduction
Kidnapping is committed by individuals, criminal gangs, organised syndicates and, in
some cases, people known to the victim. It involves taking or holding adults or
children against their will in homes, vehicles, public spaces, workplaces and other
locations across South Africa. The crime has become a serious security concern
because it threatens personal freedom, family safety and public confidence in law-
enforcement institutions (Herbig et al., 2021:95). South African kidnapping cases
differ according to the victim, offender, motive and method used, while financial gain
remains an important reason behind many incidents. The real extent is difficult to
establish because the available system records kidnappings under one general
crime category, without separating the different forms clearly (Herbig et al., 2021:99).
This assignment defines kidnapping and discusses bridal, initiation, basic, virtual and
express kidnapping.
2. Definition of Kidnapping
Kidnapping may be understood as the unlawful and deliberate removal, confinement
or control of another person without that person’s free permission. It deprives the
victim of freedom of movement through force, threats, fraud or intimidation and may
also remove a child from the lawful control of a parent or guardian (Herbig et al.,
2021:95). The offence does not always involve moving the victim over a long
distance because holding someone hostage in one location may also amount to
kidnapping. Kidnapping can accompany crimes such as robbery, extortion, sexual
violence and forced marriage, which makes it a broad and complicated criminal
practice (Van Heerden, 2017:95–96). Its main feature is therefore the intentional and
unlawful denial of another person’s liberty.
3. Types of Kidnapping in South Africa
3.1 Bridal Kidnapping
Bridal kidnapping is commonly linked to the traditional practice known as ukuthwala.
It traditionally involved a man, sometimes assisted by relatives or friends, taking a
Assignment 1 Semester 2 2026
Unique number: 357929
Due date: 18 August 2026
Types of Kidnapping in South Africa and Their Threat to Public Safety
1. Introduction
Kidnapping is committed by individuals, criminal gangs, organised syndicates and, in
some cases, people known to the victim. It involves taking or holding adults or
children against their will in homes, vehicles, public spaces, workplaces and other
locations across South Africa. The crime has become a serious security concern
because it threatens personal freedom, family safety and public confidence in law-
enforcement institutions (Herbig et al., 2021:95). South African kidnapping cases
differ according to the victim, offender, motive and method used, while financial gain
remains an important reason behind many incidents. The real extent is difficult to
establish because the available system records kidnappings under one general
crime category, without separating the different forms clearly (Herbig et al., 2021:99).
, Types of Kidnapping in South Africa and Their Threat to Public Safety
1. Introduction
Kidnapping is committed by individuals, criminal gangs, organised syndicates and, in
some cases, people known to the victim. It involves taking or holding adults or
children against their will in homes, vehicles, public spaces, workplaces and other
locations across South Africa. The crime has become a serious security concern
because it threatens personal freedom, family safety and public confidence in law-
enforcement institutions (Herbig et al., 2021:95). South African kidnapping cases
differ according to the victim, offender, motive and method used, while financial gain
remains an important reason behind many incidents. The real extent is difficult to
establish because the available system records kidnappings under one general
crime category, without separating the different forms clearly (Herbig et al., 2021:99).
This assignment defines kidnapping and discusses bridal, initiation, basic, virtual and
express kidnapping.
2. Definition of Kidnapping
Kidnapping may be understood as the unlawful and deliberate removal, confinement
or control of another person without that person’s free permission. It deprives the
victim of freedom of movement through force, threats, fraud or intimidation and may
also remove a child from the lawful control of a parent or guardian (Herbig et al.,
2021:95). The offence does not always involve moving the victim over a long
distance because holding someone hostage in one location may also amount to
kidnapping. Kidnapping can accompany crimes such as robbery, extortion, sexual
violence and forced marriage, which makes it a broad and complicated criminal
practice (Van Heerden, 2017:95–96). Its main feature is therefore the intentional and
unlawful denial of another person’s liberty.
3. Types of Kidnapping in South Africa
3.1 Bridal Kidnapping
Bridal kidnapping is commonly linked to the traditional practice known as ukuthwala.
It traditionally involved a man, sometimes assisted by relatives or friends, taking a
