The South African Police Service have strongly urged Limpopo residents to be vigilant this festive season especially woman who are participating in the Stokvel Social Clubs, to stop distributing their collected money in cash.
As the Police, we have made this earnest call throughout this year as part of our ongoing crime awareness campaigns however we still find members of the community not being responsible especially in light of carrying cash safely.
This follows two separate incidents of robberies in the Tzaneen Cluster this week when women were robbed of their stokvel money, a large amount of cash.
In the Bolobedu Policing area outside Tzaneen, a 54 years old woman was robbed of stokvel money immediately after she arrived at home from the bank.
It is alleged that on 2017-11-30 at about 12:00 midday, the woman entered her room at Ga-Mamaila village after withdrawing the money from the bank for distribution when two unknown cars stopped in front of her home, three unknown men entered her room and demanded the money.
They threatened her and robbed her of a large amount of cash and they fled the scene.
Meanwhile in Modjiadjiskloof, also outside Tzaneen, a 42 year old woman was robbed of stokvel money at Goudplas yesterday.
It is alleged that the woman was asleep when six (06) armed suspects forcefully broke into her house and robbed her of her stokvel money and he children’s clothing and they fled the scene.
THE SOCIAL CLUBS MEMBERS ARE ADVISED TO UTILIZE ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS TO DISTRIBUTE THEIR MONEY WITH THE RESPECTIVE BANKS OF THEIR CHOICE INSTEAD OF DISTRIBUTING CASH, TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF INCIDENTS TO HAPPEN.
The suspects in this matter are still unknown and there is no arrest.
Anyone with information about this group of armed criminals may contact LT. Colonel Cecil Machimani at 082 451 7181 or the Crime Stop number 0860010111 or the Crime Line SMS 32211.
#CarryingCashSafely tips:
If you are a member of a cash savings club, advise members of your club of the following TIPS that will assist your club from being victim to cash robberies:
Refrain from making cash deposits of club members’ contributions on high risk days (e.g. Monday after month end);
Ensure persons depositing club cash contributions or making withdrawals are accompanied by another club member;
A stokvel, savings club or burial society can arrange for members to deposit cash directly into the club’s account instead of collecting cash contributions and
Arrange for the club’s pay-out to be electronically transferred into each club member’s personal account or accounts of their choice.
Source: South African Police Service