South Africa's Roadways Terrorized by Cash-in-transit Heists

-

South Africa is grappling with a steep surge in violent crime, characterized by frequent security van heists and a murder rate at a two-decade high, posing a significant challenge for the government and the populace as the country approaches a pivotal election year—one of the most competitive since the advent of democracy in 1994.

READ ALSO: Somalia Rejects Government Negotiation With Ethiopia Over Somaliland Port Contract

The latest annual statistics reveal a grim toll, with over 27,000 individuals killed in a single year, while the percentage of cases solved has plummeted to a disconcerting 12%. This decline in solved cases underscores a troubling norm—getting away with murder has become distressingly commonplace.

The confluence of high crime rates, poverty, and unemployment has magnified the pervasive sense of insecurity across society. The boldness of violent criminals is aptly exemplified through the brazen and widely publicized phenomenon of cash-in-transit hijackings, locally known as CIT.

These heists involve deliberate vehicular attacks on security vans carrying money, with armed criminals using explosives to raid safes, often amid traffic on busy daytime roads. The sophistication and military precision of these operations have left security personnel grappling to counter the transgressions. Wahl Bartmann, head of security firm Fidelity Services Group, likened these organized gangs to a "terrorist group," highlighting the formidable challenge they pose.

The dire situation has prompted urgent calls for government intervention, especially regarding CIT services, which are critical for disbursing social grants, as well as facilitating cash movements for financial institutions and retailers. However, the perils faced by security personnel are starkly evident, with fifteen guards from a leading security firm having lost their lives in robberies last year. 

This perilous landscape has reverberated through daily life, marked by a striking prevalence of private security officers, who often outnumber police counterparts. Lizette Lancaster of South Africa's Institute for Security Studies highlighted how the "private securitisation of public spaces" has become pervasive in many areas, underscoring a broader sense of public dissatisfaction with law enforcement's effectiveness.

READ ALSO: Turkey Fines Son of Somali President Over Car Accident That Killed a Courier

The escalating crime rates have placed the ruling African National Congress (ANC) under intense pressure to address the ongoing crisis. While the murder rate witnessed a decline in the years following apartheid, it has surged by a staggering 77% in recent times, returning to levels last seen two decades ago. Simultaneously, the dwindling rates of crime detection have compounded the issue, plummeting by over 60% since 2012, leading to a distressing scarcity of solved cases.

The looming elections amid these challenging circumstances have amplified the urgency for decisive action on the part of the government, with the need to address the rising violent crime embedded as a critical electoral issue. The gravity of these challenges underscores the imperative for robust, effective responses, as the nation grapples with these complex and deeply embedded issues.


South Africa has seen a surge in the recruitment of police officers, with approximately 20,000 new officers joining the force over the last two years, having been unveiled at prominent public gatherings. At a ceremony in Pretoria last December, newly minted officers marched before exuberant onlookers, expressing their eagerness to combat crime on the streets.

Acknowledging the prevailing challenges, Bheki Cele, the Minister for the Police, has acknowledged the gravity of the situation, admitting that the rates of violent crime are "not pleasing at all." Nonetheless, he maintains that the government is taking proactive measures to address the issue, emphasizing that crime is a global concern. Notably, Cele pointed to the recent robbery involving West Ham football player Kurt Zouma in the UK, highlighting that violent crime is a universal occurrence impacting "every country."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Taxes Now Serve as Punishment to Businesses - Mark Badu-Aboagye

-
Image
The Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry's CEO, Mark Badu-Aboagye, has expressed grave concerns about the growing burden of direct and indirect taxes placed on the country's enterprises.  During an open discussion on JoyNews' PM Express, Mr. Badu-Aboagye brought attention to the mounting difficulties that businesses are facing in light of rising expenses and financial commitments, especially with regard to tax responsibilities. Related To This: Akufo-Addo's Imposed Tax Policies Will Make The Next President Suffer - Franklin Cudjoe Mr. Badu-Aboagye expressed his dismay and emphasized the unsettling consequences of the existing tax structure, describing it as harsh and onerous for companies aiming for expansion and sustainability.  He underlined, saying, "I believe that rather than helping businesses, our taxes now serve as a punishment to them. This is because they expect you to pay, but we are unable to. They are beating us but they are telling us to keep quiet....
Read more

GJA Calls For Media Blacklist on Yendi MP for Allegedly Assaulting Journalist

-
Image
In response to allegations of assault against Mohammed Aminu M. Alabira, the Northern Regional Correspondent for Citi TV, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has called for a national media boycott of Farouk Aliu Mahama, the Member of Parliament for Yendi. Important industry actors have endorsed the GJA's directive: the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA). Related To This: Hawa Koomson Threatens to Sue GJA President Over Assault Allegations The coalition asked all media outlets to uphold Farouk Aliu Mahama's blacklisting till further notice during a joint press conference on Tuesday, February 6. The media professionals were put at serious risk due to the MP's purported connections to those who could potentially pose a threat to journalists. The groups emphasized, "All media houses must refrain from providing any coverage, interviews, or a...
Read more

Use Emission Tax Funds to Support EPA - Professor Kofi Amegah

-
Image
The University of Cape Coast's renowned environmental and nutritional epidemiology lecturer, Professor Kofi Amegah, has suggested that money from emission levies be used to support environmental protection organizations.  During his February 1 appearance on The Pulse on JoyNews, Professor Amegah emphasized how vital it is to improve the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) capacity to efficiently track pollution levels and strengthen environmental conservation measures. Related To This: Implementation of Emissions Levy Act Commences Today Professor Amegah emphasized the need to reallocate a portion of the proceeds from the emission tax in order to relieve the EPA's budgetary constraints, given its limited resources. He highlighted that such support would enable the acquisition of reference-based monitors, which, when installed in urban areas, can furnish essential data vital for formulating effective air pollution control policies. Additionally, the resulting data would...
Read more