South America may still be the kidnapping continent of the world, but Africa is catching up fast, say the experts, and South Africans are increasingly becoming targets. Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Algeria, Libya, South Sudan and the Central Africa Republic are kidnapping hot spots. The motivation is not just political, but often financial, and the targets are frequently male business travellers."The number of South Africans kidnapped is increasing," said Institute of Security Studies researcher Martin Ewi."But what we don't know is if they were kidnapped because they are South African or in the wrong place at the wrong time."Often, Ewi explained, South Africans - like Stephen McGowan - who was kidnapped in Mali in 2011, were snatched with other white foreigners.Ewi said it was hard to know how many South Africans had been kidnapped as it was often kept quiet.Africa's kidnapping surge has been fuelled by the rise of Islamic extremism and criminal gangs who see it as a quick way to make money.Criminal gangs over the past three years have created a kidnapping epidemic in Mozambique.Here, said Ryan Cummings of crisis management company Red24, the targets aren't South African but Portuguese nationals."With these individuals they can identify routes, and because it is a cash economy ransoms can be raised quickly. Visiting businessmen aren't targeted because they don't know their routines," he said.Christof Bentele, the head of Global Crisis Management at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, said the average ransom successfully collected by kidnappers is between $150 000 and $200 000.To prevent kidnappings, companies implement security measures to protect employees."The world has changed; 15 years ago South America saw the most kidnappings. Africa might not be there yet, but it is on the way."..