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Major security firm reports spike in such crime in South Africa

Private security firm G4S Cash Solutions has called on the Minister of Police to urgently convene a meeting with all stakeholders to address the continued escalation of violence in the Cash in Transit (CIT) attacks.

This follows a CIT attack across the road which occurred in Durban around 1.30pm on Monday April 25, where four perpetrators opened fire on three G4S officers, resulting in the tragic killing of one of the guards. Another guard was seriously injured and was airlifted to a nearby private hospital where he is in critical condition.

Renso Smit, Regional Cluster Director for G4S Southern Africa, said, “We are devastated by this tragic and senseless loss, and have conveyed our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. This loss of life is all the more insane since all of our road crossing devices are equipped with technology that renders 100% of the money useless in the event of a forced opening. Our message to would-be criminals is clear: don’t bother attacking our teams because you’ll walk away with nothing of value.

G4S said it invests significantly and continuously in equipping its guards with all the training, resources, equipment and tactical support they need to protect themselves.

“These are not ordinary criminals; they are well-organized, cold-blooded murderers whose indiscriminate use of weapons continues to claim lives and destroy families. The country and the entire private security industry cannot afford to lose more guards in these brutal attacks, and so we call on the Minister of Police to take urgent action.

“To combat CIT attacks, we believe it is essential that this type of crime be prioritized; that the CIT task force under the SAPS be urgently reconstituted and strengthened, and that the sector work closely with law enforcement and the government to fight this scourge together.

“There are not enough prosecutions and convictions to deter these criminals, who operate with impunity. We therefore call on Crime Intelligence, SAPS, the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority and the ministers leading them to prioritize CIT crime,” Smit said.

The data of the South African Police Service shows that South Africa reported 60 thefts of money in transit in the last three months of 2021 alone.

Go cashless – and hit harder

One way South Africa could reduce its climate of embezzlement, theft and illegal syndicates is to promote the move away from cash, says Warren Myers, managing director of the security platform at the application and medical intervention AURA.

“As criminals get smarter and the rates of murders, attempted murders, kidnappings and corporate crimes increase, we need to change our approach to how we deal with them. Crime often functions as a business and, like any business, it evolves and becomes more sophisticated, and sophisticated crime needs sophisticated solutions,” he said.

“For this, partnerships and collaboration between security companies, businesses, the community and the police are essential, and technological innovations make this possible.”

Digital payment apps and mobile wallets are creating a society where there is less cash in circulation, which will eventually eradicate many of our crime problems as adoption of this technology grows, he said. -he declares.

Another way technology is tackling the problem of crime is by improving response capabilities when incidents occur. Myers argues that it’s not enough to send a single responder to deal with syndicate-related crimes when they happen, because “the good guys have to come harder and harder.”

“With multiple responders approaching a crime scene within 5-6 minutes and positioned at exit routes from the scene, a situation can be quickly neutralized. When all the good guys come together as a team, using the right technology, it’s much harder for the bad guys to get away with illegal and often violent activity, and it’s riskier for them to attempt these crimes on the inside. coming.

Anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee says leaving South Africa for a safer country is not the answer. “We must join hands and work together to eradicate crime so that we can stay in this country, our home.”


Read: Big change for private security in South Africa