Summary of South Africa's Security Situation in August 2025
September 9, 2025
Overview of South Africa's Security Situation in August
Researcher No. 006
Based on monitoring reports from Hanwei International's security officers stationed in South Africa and relevant media coverage, Hanwei International's analysis indicates that South African society faces multiple challenges this month. On the political and economic front, the African National Congress (ANC) intends to expand the "Government of National Unity (GNU)" but has encountered numerous obstacles, leading to a sharp decline in its approval rating; the additional tariffs imposed by the United States have triggered a chain reaction of damage, pushing the national unemployment rate to a continuous rise; violent protests involving road blockades and arson have occurred in various parts of South Africa. In terms of social security risks, incidents such as abductions, shootings, and robberies remain persistently high, involving serious violent acts, with Chinese nationals becoming a key target group. Additionally, large-scale spot checks in South Africa have "targeted" Chinese-owned businesses.
I. Political and Economic Aspects
(I) ANC's GNU Expansion Blocked, Approval Rating Plummets
On August 8, 2025, the National Executive Committee of South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), announced that the ANC had officially authorized South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to lead the party in engaging in discussions with multiple political parties in Parliament, aiming to expand the GNU. Key focus was placed on the Umkhonto we Sizwe Party (MK) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), while stating that the Democratic Alliance (DA) would not be forced to withdraw from the GNU.
However, this expansion plan has encountered significant hurdles during implementation. On August 21, the leader of Build One South Africa (BOSA) clearly stated that BOSA would refuse to join the coalition government if the EFF and MK Party were admitted to the GNU. Some members of the existing coalition parties believe that the GNU expansion plan may intensify tensions with the DA and further complicate the current governance situation. Meanwhile, the latest opinion polls show that the ANC's national approval rating has fallen below 30%, reaching an all-time low, marking the continuous erosion of the ANC's long-standing governing advantage. Even in some key cities, the DA has surpassed the ANC in approval ratings due to its strong urban management capabilities and consistent commitment to improving the quality of public services. Political parties such as the EFF have also seen a steady rise in approval ratings in some provinces. Plagued by severe social and livelihood issues such as deteriorating public security and power shortages, public dissatisfaction has been on the rise. The ANC is now facing multiple challenges, with increasing political uncertainty, and the government's security guarantee capabilities are being tested.
(II) Multiple Dilemmas Under the Impact of U.S. Tariffs
Starting from August 7, the U.S. policy of imposing tariffs as high as 30% on South African goods was officially implemented, which is expected to deal a heavy blow to South Africa's agricultural, manufacturing, and other industries.
Agriculture: The agricultural sector, which contributes 3% to South Africa's GDP and provides 5.8% of employment, has been severely hit. The citrus industry alone may lose approximately 35,000 jobs, and farmers' incomes have dropped significantly.
Manufacturing: In the automotive industry, for example, South Africa's auto exports to the U.S. in the first half of 2025 fell by more than 82% year-on-year. On August 29, Ford South Africa announced it would lay off 470 workers, mainly at the Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, Gauteng Province, and the Struandale Engine Plant in Port Elizabeth.
Data from Statistics South Africa shows that South Africa's unemployment rate rose to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025 and further climbed to 33.2% in the second quarter. Among them, the unemployment rate for young people aged 15-34 reached as high as 46.1% in the first quarter. Under the impact of this tariff policy, the national unemployment rate in the third quarter is bound to be grim. High unemployment has left a large number of young people marginalized in society, making them prone to strong feelings of dissatisfaction. On the one hand, this may trigger large-scale protests; on the other hand, it may lead to a distorted mentality of retaliating against society, driving them to engage in criminal activities such as robberies and thefts, thereby worsening public security.
(III) Violent Protests Erupt in Various Parts of South Africa
On August 7, approximately 100 protesters gathered on a section of the R300 Highway in Cape Town, placing burning tires in the middle of the road and blocking key entrances and exits.
On August 12, the office building of the Department of Home Affairs under the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng Province became the "battleground" of a protest conflict, with flames rising high at the scene. It is reported that the protesters were residents evicted from municipal apartments.
On August 13, an e-hailing driver in South Africa was attacked and killed at Maponya Mall in Soweto. On the 14th, a large number of protesters blocked the roads around the mall with bricks in an effort to seek justice for the attacked driver.
On August 12, the office building of the Department of Home Affairs under the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng Province became the "battleground" of a protest conflict, with flames rising high at the scene. It is reported that the protesters were residents evicted from municipal apartments.
On August 13, an e-hailing driver in South Africa was attacked and killed at Maponya Mall in Soweto. On the 14th, a large number of protesters blocked the roads around the mall with bricks in an effort to seek justice for the attacked driver.
Both road blockades and arson incidents have seriously threatened the lives and property safety of the people, further increasing the security risks for people's daily travel and lives.
II. Social Security Risks
(I) Abduction Incidents
South Africa's abduction cases have shown an upward trend in 2025. A total of 4,571 abduction cases occurred in the first quarter, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.8%. This month, abduction cases have surged in various parts of South Africa, involving groups such as children, women, the elderly, and businessmen, with some cases accompanied by serious violent acts such as murder.
Gauteng Province: Pretoria, a key city in Gauteng Province, has become the "epicenter" of abduction cases nationwide, accounting for more than half of the country's total abductions. Recently, child abductions have increased significantly, and there have even been consecutive cases of five women going missing and being killed, indicating that the local security situation is not to be underestimated. According to relevant sources, there are as many as dozens of abduction cases targeting Chinese nationals in Johannesburg every month, making Chinese people one of the key target groups. On August 19, a Chinese national was abducted in the Aeroton area in southern Johannesburg. The Chinese Embassy in South Africa promptly intervened, but as of the end of August, the abducted Chinese citizen had not yet been rescued.
Western Cape Province: On August 10, a businessman running a tavern in Cape Town was abducted at his home. His body, with obvious injuries, was found two days later.
Eastern Cape Province: In the early morning of August 11, a 73-year-old man was abducted at gunpoint while driving out and his family was extorted for ransom; on August 26, a 62-year-old man was abducted on his way home from work.
(II) Shooting Incidents
Shooting incidents have occurred frequently in South Africa this month, and serial shooting incidents have caused a large number of casualties, with most cases related to gang activities.
On July 31, Tracy Brown, a prosecutor at the Regional Court in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, was shot and killed at her doorstep, which is said to be an assassination-style attack.
On the evening of August 13, a fierce shooting broke out between taxi drivers and e-hailing drivers outside Maponya Mall in southern Johannesburg, Gauteng Province. One e-hailing driver was shot dead, and a passerby and another e-hailing driver were injured by gunfire.
From August 11 to 15, serial shooting incidents occurred in multiple communities in Cape Town, Western Cape Province, resulting in 16 deaths.
On August 21, a shooting incident occurred on OR Tambo Road in Hout Bay, Western Cape Province, killing 2 men and injuring 5 others.
On the evening of August 13, a fierce shooting broke out between taxi drivers and e-hailing drivers outside Maponya Mall in southern Johannesburg, Gauteng Province. One e-hailing driver was shot dead, and a passerby and another e-hailing driver were injured by gunfire.
From August 11 to 15, serial shooting incidents occurred in multiple communities in Cape Town, Western Cape Province, resulting in 16 deaths.
On August 21, a shooting incident occurred on OR Tambo Road in Hout Bay, Western Cape Province, killing 2 men and injuring 5 others.
(III) Robbery Incidents
This month, robberies in South Africa have been diverse and frequent, involving acts such as gun threats, violent looting, and even abduction.
On July 30, a church in Mpumalanga Province was subjected to an armed robbery. A group of armed gangsters abducted 9 church members and looted a large amount of property from the church and the members.
On August 12, South African members of Parliament strongly criticized the insufficient police presence at traffic intersections around Cape Town International Airport, especially on some key highway sections. This shortage has led to frequent robberies, and even incidents of people being shot, targeting tourists and local residents.
According to reports on August 18, a farm in Mpumalanga Province was robbed by 5 armed gangsters the previous week. The gangsters looted multiple cars, household appliances, and dozens of livestock, causing severe negative impacts. The police, in collaboration with multiple departments, successfully arrested 1 suspect.
On August 19, three members of Parliament, including the Chairman of the Police Affairs Committee of the South African Parliament, were attacked in a carjacking after completing a visit. Among them, 2 suffered minor injuries and 1 was seriously injured and hospitalized.
On August 12, South African members of Parliament strongly criticized the insufficient police presence at traffic intersections around Cape Town International Airport, especially on some key highway sections. This shortage has led to frequent robberies, and even incidents of people being shot, targeting tourists and local residents.
According to reports on August 18, a farm in Mpumalanga Province was robbed by 5 armed gangsters the previous week. The gangsters looted multiple cars, household appliances, and dozens of livestock, causing severe negative impacts. The police, in collaboration with multiple departments, successfully arrested 1 suspect.
On August 19, three members of Parliament, including the Chairman of the Police Affairs Committee of the South African Parliament, were attacked in a carjacking after completing a visit. Among them, 2 suffered minor injuries and 1 was seriously injured and hospitalized.
III. Other Aspects
(I) South Africa Continues Spot Checks, with Overseas Chinese Businesses Becoming the Focus of Compliance Supervision
Recently, law enforcement agencies in various parts of South Africa, including Gauteng Province, Mpumalanga Province, KwaZulu-Natal Province, and Western Cape Province, have stepped up inspections on the legal and compliant operation of businesses and launched joint law enforcement operations. Key focuses include food safety and business licenses, counterfeit products and unlicensed sales, hygiene standards, and fire-fighting facilities. On the afternoon of August 26, the Public Security Department of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, conducted large-scale spot checks in Chinatown in the eastern part of the city. During the checks, a number of foreign nationals who failed to present valid identification documents or business licenses on the spot were detained. Since Chinese-owned businesses are concentrated in this area, the operation has attracted widespread social attention. Some Chinese shop owners stated that even if they hold legal documents, they were still taken away for identity verification during the checks because they did not carry the documents with them.
Hanwei International recommends that Chinese-funded enterprises and individuals in South Africa focus on the following preventive measures:
- Closely Monitor Developments to Avoid Political and Economic Security Risks: It is advisable to closely follow local political and economic news, and through information released by the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, government announcements, and social media, avoid areas prone to protests such as government institutions and key transportation hubs as much as possible. When traveling daily, stay away from large crowds to prevent involvement in unexpected conflicts. Given South Africa's current complex political and economic situation, Chinese enterprises are advised to re-evaluate their business strategies, stock up on necessary supplies in advance, and minimize disruptions to business operations caused by transportation blockages and price fluctuations. In terms of employee management, strengthen the planning of employees' commuting routes to and from work, avoiding hotspots of conflict.
- Strengthen Security Precautions to Resist the Threat of Frequent Violent Crimes: In response to the severe situation where Chinese nationals have been frequently targeted by abductions, shootings, and robberies recently, Chinese citizens are advised to remain highly vigilant at all times, avoid traveling at night or in the early morning, and stay away from areas with poor public security such as urban-rural fringe areas and informal settlements. Do not wear overly conspicuous valuable jewelry or carry large amounts of cash when going out. In public places, always be alert to suspicious people and vehicles around you. If you feel followed or threatened, immediately go to crowded places with security personnel.
- Abide by Local Laws and Regulations, and Operate in Compliance with the Law: Recently, many provinces and cities in South Africa have launched large-scale inspections and rectifications of businesses. Chinese businesses and enterprises in South Africa are advised to apply for business licenses in accordance with the law, resolutely refrain from selling counterfeit and shoddy products, and promptly clear out expired food. Strengthen identity verification of employees, and carry necessary identification and business documents with you. Actively cooperate with local law enforcement agencies during inspections. If you encounter unfair treatment during inspections, remain calm, collect evidence, and safeguard your rights and interests through legal and compliant channels.
