Safety advice is rarely written for men, and men rarely go looking for it. Yet SAPS figures consistently show that more than eight in ten murder victims in South Africa are men. The gap isn’t physical. It is behavioural: men are more likely to confront, to resist, to take the late drive alone and to assume “it won’t happen to me”.
Close protection officers are trained out of every one of those habits. Here is what that training looks like for everyday life.
The Most Dangerous Thing You Carry Is Your Pride
A large share of serious violence between men starts as something small: a parking bay, a spilled drink, a look, a road-rage gesture. Professionals are taught that the win is getting home. Walking away is not losing.
- Road rage: don’t gesture back, don’t follow, don’t get out of the car. If someone is following you, drive to a police station.
- In a bar or club: leave before the argument, not after. Alcohol removes judgement on both sides.
- If you carry a licensed firearm: it changes nothing about the rule above, and it raises the stakes of every confrontation. A firearm is for a threat to life, not for winning an argument.
Hijacking and Armed Robbery
If you are confronted by an armed criminal, comply. Your car, phone and watch are insured; you are not replaceable.
- Keep your hands visible and move slowly. Say what you are going to do before you do it: “I’m taking off my seatbelt.”
- Don’t make eye contact for long and don’t try to memorise faces in a way that looks obvious.
- If a child is in the car, calmly say so and ask to get them out.
- Most hijackings happen at the gate or driveway. Check your mirrors on the way home, don’t wait in the road for the gate to open, and don’t go home if you are being followed.
Express Kidnapping and Forced Withdrawals
In an express kidnapping, the victim is held for a short time and forced to withdraw cash or make transfers from a banking app. The criminal’s profit is capped by your limits, so set them before you need them:
- Keep a separate everyday account with a modest balance, and your savings in an account that isn’t on your phone’s banking app.
- Set low daily ATM, card and transfer limits in your banking app. Raise them for a specific purchase, then lower them again.
- Turn on transaction notifications so that a trusted person can raise the alarm if they know your pattern.
Dating-App and Hook-Up Lures
Criminals use dating apps to lure men to a location where they are robbed, forced to empty accounts, or held for ransom. This affects men on all platforms, including LGBTQ+ apps, and victims often don’t report it out of embarrassment — which is exactly what the criminals count on.
- Video call before you meet; a real person will do it.
- Meet the first time in a busy public place and use your own transport.
- Don’t go to an address you have only been given in chat, especially at night.
- Tell a friend where you are going and when you will check in.
Sextortion
Men are the main target of online sextortion: an attractive “match” moves the chat to video or photos, then threatens to send the images to your family, employer or contacts unless you pay. Don’t pay — payment marks you as someone who pays. Stop responding, screenshot everything, lock down your follower and friends lists, report the account and open a SAPS case. More in our personal cybersecurity guide.
Nights Out
- Drink spiking happens to men too, usually as a prelude to robbery.
- Don’t flash cash, a watch or car keys at the bar.
- Walk to your car with someone, keys in hand, and leave rather than sit in the parking lot.
- If you have been drinking, don’t drive. The e-hailing checks in our women’s safety guide apply to everyone.
Men Can Be Victims Too
Men experience domestic abuse, coercive control and sexual violence, and are the least likely to report it. The protection orders under the Domestic Violence Act and the Protection from Harassment Act apply regardless of gender, and the GBV Command Centre on 0800 428 428 does not only take calls from women.
The holidays are also hard on mental health. If you or a man in your life is struggling, the SADAG Suicide Crisis Line is 0800 567 567, free and open 24 hours. Asking for help is a security decision too.
Save These Numbers
Put them in your phone now, and in the phones of anyone in your household old enough to use one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are men more at risk of violent crime in South Africa?
Yes. SAPS crime statistics consistently show that more than eight in ten murder victims in South Africa are men. Much of that risk is behavioural, including confrontation, resisting armed criminals, alcohol and travelling alone late at night.
What should I do during a hijacking?
Comply. Keep your hands visible, move slowly and say what you are doing before you do it. Do not argue or resist. If a child is in the car, calmly say so and ask to get them out. Your vehicle is replaceable; you are not.
How can I reduce the risk of express kidnapping?
Set low daily ATM, card and transfer limits in your banking app, keep savings in an account that is not accessible from your phone, turn on transaction notifications, and only raise limits temporarily for a specific purchase.
Can men get a protection order in South Africa?
Yes. Protection orders under the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998 and the Protection from Harassment Act 17 of 2011 are available regardless of gender. Apply at your local magistrate's court.
Sources: South African Police Service quarterly crime statistics; South African Depression and Anxiety Group; Gender-Based Violence Command Centre.