Mkhwanazi to meet stakeholders over cash heist surge
KwaZulu-Natal's police chief is meeting with stakeholders on
Tuesday, in a bid to address the worrying number of cash-in-transit robberies.
The latest provincial crime statistics paint a worrying picture.
32 cash-in-transit heists were reported between April and December last year.
26 were reported in the same period in 2022, and 30 a year later.
READ: Mchunu admits SAPS resources hindering cases
Two weeks ago, police shot and killed five suspects in Ridgeview.
They were believed to have been behind a cash van explosion and robbery on the M25 in KwaMashu.
KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says these heists are becoming a major policing headache.
"We are having a problem with this. That is why we have been trying to emphasise to business, to try and come on board and help us to try and minimise the cash movement or the use of cash in trading in our country, especially in this province, because then it minimises the risk of this type of crime."
Mkhwanazi was speaking at a media briefing in Durban on Monday.
He says they are also keeping a close watch on truck hijackings which have been on the rise.
" It is organised; it is people who steal the cargo for the purpose of selling it elsewhere. Then we have seen quite a number of law enforcement officers that are part of this, that are able to stop the truck from driving as if they are doing inspection. Once the truck driver is stationary, then criminals will come and rob the truck.
“So, we are also looking internal from the law enforcement that we're having on our roads, to try and mitigate this type of incident from happening."
Find us on social media
Follow the ECR Newswatch WhatsApp channel here
