Cape Town – An international security company, Crisis24, has reportedly drawn ire after it offered “advice” to people travelling to Cape Town, warning them to avoid “lower-income areas” of the city.
According to IOL, authorities said this could impact on the local tourism industry.
The warning came after the kidnapping of a 35-year-old Ukrainian national in Ipswich Road, Blue Downs on Thursday morning.
“Consider avoiding nonessential travel to lower-income areas of Cape Town, particularly at night and unescorted. Maintain a low public profile and do not show outward displays of wealth, particularly if traveling alone and in higher-risk locations. Do not discuss plans and routes publicly,” the firm advised.
“Kidnapping for ransom and extortion of foreigners and their family members is an increasing concern in the greater Cape Town area, especially those showing overt displays of wealth. Extortion of owners of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs is common in central Cape Town,” it added.
The company also mentioned the kidnapping statistics in the country, saying that over 3 000 kidnapping cases were reported in South Africa between April and June of 2022; of these, 237 were reported in Western Cape Province.
“Criminal gangs and syndicates operate extensively and are the likely culprits in the recent string of kidnappings. Security forces are generally under-resourced and have been unable to stem rising crime rates, including kidnapping, which has become an increasingly national security issue,” it further alleged.
But Cape Town Tourism CEO Enver Duminy dismissed the travel warning as “misleading”.
“The warning, issued by Crisis24, is misleading in linking it to the tourism agenda, as it is believed that the lady who was kidnapped is in fact a resident of Cape Town, who has Ukrainian origin.
“Regardless, this doesn’t take away from the fact that this horrible crime took place. The impact of these negative warnings can naturally affect travellers who may be hesitant in visiting Cape Town, or any other global cities where the consideration of safety is high,” IOL quoted Duminy as saying.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, confirmed in a statement on Friday that The South African Police Service (SAPS) agreed to the City’s request for SAPS to utilise the services of its specialised units and form an inter-governmental kidnapping and extortion task force.
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
