GAUTENG – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued an urgent warning as the country prepares to ring in 2025, alerting both men and women to exercise extreme caution when visiting bars, clubs and entertainment venues this festive season.
Police have identified two disturbing criminal patterns that have claimed lives across Gauteng and North West provinces in recent weeks.
In the first scheme, criminal syndicates are recruiting young women to target unsuspecting men at drinking establishments. The women approach male victims in clubs, taverns and concert venues, gaining their trust before suggesting they leave together for another location.
“Once the target has been identified, the women would move in, often promising to leave with the unsuspecting victim to another drinking place, their home, a hotel or even a guesthouse,” police said in a statement.
During these encounters, the women spike their victims’ drinks. Criminal accomplices then move in to rob the incapacitated men, stealing vehicles, cellphones and cash. In tragic cases, some victims have died from overdoses of the spiking substances.
Women are also falling victim to drink spiking, with multiple cases reported nationwide of female victims found raped, assaulted or murdered after nights out at taverns, nightclubs and recreational venues.
Some victims left with strangers, while others departed with intimate partners or acquaintances, police noted. Several women have been discovered brutally assaulted or killed.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe advised revelers to follow strict safety protocols when going out. She emphasized the importance of going out with trusted friends and staying together throughout the evening, while also sharing plans and locations with someone reliable who can track their whereabouts.
Partygoers should never leave drinks unattended and should limit alcohol consumption to maintain awareness of their surroundings. Police strongly advised against drinking and driving, urging people to arrange safe transportation in advance to avoid spending time in police holding cells for drunk driving offenses.
“Spiking, regardless of the victim’s gender, is a serious crime with severe physical and psychological consequences.”
