For decades, South Africans have been turning their homes into ‘safe spaces’ through measures such as high walls, electric fencing, and burglar bars.
Yet, with around 65 vehicle hijackings occurring in the country each day, one might expect more South Africans to transform their cars into fortresses on wheels.
Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that.
While armoured vehicles are readily available in South Africa, they are not a financially viable option for most motorists, with new models from established armouring manufacturers priced at over R1 million, inclusive of all features.
But for those who can afford them, armoured vehicles are becoming a more attractive proposition for South Africans seeking to protect themselves from crimes such as hijacking as well as the growing kidnapping scourge that plagues the country.
South Africa currently has three major armoured vehicle manufacturers, these being SVI, Armoured Mobility and Armourmax, all with extensive experience in the game and wide product ranges available.
Customers can select from two primary protection levels: B4 and B6, with variations like B4+. The B4 level provides protection against most handguns, including 9mm and .44 Magnum, while the more robust B6 level is engineered to withstand a wider range of firearms, including AK47s and R1 assault rifles.
There are also ‘discreet’ and ‘non-discreet’ options, with the former maintaining the look and feel of a regular car. Non-discreet armouring, generally cheaper and preferred by commercial and security customers, has more obvious armouring features.
Nabeel Kahn, general manager of Armoured Mobility, says a B4 discreet package is usually best for those seeking protection from violent crimes such as hijackings.
He said the company had seen an increase in the number of customers seeking armoured vehicles, with social media videos fuelling fear among South Africans.
“With everyone on social media, we also witness many cameras capturing crimes, giving us the brutal truth of some of these actions,” Khan added.
SVI also recommends B4 protection for ‘ordinary’ civilians who are not facing a particular threat, while B6 is usually more attractive to those who feel there is a target on their back.
Jaco de Kock, CEO of SVI, likens hijacking protection to an onion, with various layers around the central core that you seek to protect. An armoured vehicle is just one of those layers.
“You have your alarm system at home, your security at the office, you’re inside a security estate maybe, there’s cameras, those are all layers,” De Kock told IOL.
“But what many people forget is the training part of it. What do you do if you’re in a situation? You need to have a predetermined idea of how you are going to react. ‘Am I going to just give the car over? Am I going to run away?’ All of these things are very important.
“For instance, let’s say you have a B4 vehicle and there’s a guy coming at you with an assault rifle, you need to understand the effect of the weapon on the vehicle and so then you will react differently than when somebody comes with a pistol,” he added.
De Kock said there are many ways in which those who can’t afford an armoured vehicle can lower their risk.
He highly recommends advanced driver training, while simple common sense is another very important layer of the ‘onion’.
“Just be awake. Don’t put something on the seat next to you. Don’t drive into a dangerous area with a Rolex on your arm. Don’t make yourself a target!”
Run-flat tyres can mitigate the hijacking risk too, even in the case of armoured vehicles as penetration will eventually happen if it remains stationary for long enough. Buying an SUV or bakkie that can mount pavements is also a worthwhile consideration as these are easier to escape in, compared to an ordinary car.
How much does a new armoured vehicle cost in South Africa?
Johannesburg-based SVI offers a wide range of SUVs and bakkies in both B4 and B6 formats, with prices starting at about R588,000 for a 360-degree B4 package, excluding the price of the base vehicle, which the client supplies. Roof and floor armouring can be added at an additional cost, as can run-flat tyres.
Customers may supply older, second-hand vehicles, but should keep the overall lifespan of the vehicle in mind, given the amount being invested.
A B6 bakkie is somewhat more expensive, with prices on a Toyota Hilux Legend conversion starting at R891,000.
A popular option is the Mercedes V-Class B4 conversion, from R1,037,610, and there is a wide variety of SUVs on offer, including the new Toyota Prado, from R746,419, and the factory-approved BMW X3, at R879,000, all excluding the vehicle.
While affordability is a relative term when you’re speaking of armoured cars, another manufacturer called Armoured Mobility does come in at the lower end of the scale, with its Chery Tiggo 8 Pro B4 model starting at around R1,134,000, including the vehicle.
While the company offers an extensive range of vehicles, Nabeel Kahn said the Chery Tiggo 8 was currently the company’s most popular vehicle in the B4 category. The conversion is relatively lightweight, adding 120kg onto this specific vehicle.
“We use the lightest weight material possible on the market, this would be composite material for our B4 conversions.”
Armourmax also offers a wide range of conversions on new vehicles, as well as a comprehensive inventory of used vehicles and various rental options. This manufacturer only does discreet armouring options.
New single cab bakkie conversions start at R540,000 and SUVs such as the new Prado, are priced from R878,000, excluding the donor vehicle.
Armourmax marketing manager Michael Broom admits that good quality armouring options are not accessible to the average South African, but warns buyers to be wary of cheaper options.
"Affordability and accessibility to quality armoured vehicles is a challenge, as armouring materials are imported and we are exposed to the USD exchange rate," Broom said.
"That said, beware of 'cheap' solutions. We have physical evidence that these cheaper solutions do not keep you safe, and in that case it is money wasted and possibly a life lost. When choosing an armourer- ask the questions such as who their suppliers are, what OEM and other recommendations they have in place and always insist on being able to visit their facility to inspect their armouring processes.
"Quality and ballistic integrity do come at a price, but your life is not the price you should be paying for sub-standard protection."
What goes into building an armoured vehicle?
The protection that occupants enjoy comes as a result of significantly thicker glass as well as a variety of composites and additional steel.
This differs with the various protection levels, for instance, with the glass being about 20mm thick on a B4 vehicle and 40mm on a B6, according to SVI.
But customers also need to keep in mind that these conversions add significant weight to the vehicles, with the penalty on an SVI conversion ranging from about 250kg on a B4 vehicle to 600kg on some of the bigger B6 offerings. This will have an effect on fuel consumption as well as performance. Furthermore, a ‘discreet’ armoured vehicle also takes about three months to build.
Clients should also keep practical considerations in mind, such as much heavier doors on a B6 conversion.
Regarding product integrity, SVI says that all technical considerations are taken into account during the lengthy development process, in order to ensure that features such as airbags are still functional and the door hinges are able to cope under the additional weight, for instance. Numerous components need to be modified or replaced with heavy-duty units to bear the increased weight of the vehicle.
“Affordability is unfortunately a challenge with armouring, it is expensive in terms of materials used in the vehicle and also the conversion time, but we’ve worked on certain sizes of vehicles and our armouring kits are developed around that, so we have a standard price for a small SUV, a large SUV and then a double cab bakkie,” SVI’s Jaco de Kock added.
IOL