Johannesburg - Police have urged the public to make use of electronic funds transfers (EFT) instead of carrying large sums of money around to avoid getting robbed and further endangering their lives.
This follows an incident involving members of the local stokvel under the Mongwaneng policing area who were looted of R60 000 in cash after gathering to share the money on December 10.
According to the police, two armed suspects robbed them of their money at the premises of one of the members of Tshware Village, Ga-Mamabolo.
Lieutenant-Colonel Malesela Ledwaba explained that the suspects appeared out of nowhere and the members were told to lie down.
“It is reported that the stokvel members gathered at the premises of one of the members at Tshware village, Ga-Mamabolo. At about 10.30 am, before they could share their monthly contributions, two suspects appeared and ordered everyone to lie down. They then took all the money, and before they fled the scene, they locked all of them into one of the rooms.”
Provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe, has again cautioned community members and business owners to refrain from carrying large amounts of money or sharing stokvel money in hard cash.
“We often receive reports like this, where stokvel members withdraw large amounts of money and proceed to the house of one of the members to share it, especially during this time of the year. This method obviously attracts criminals. Stokvel members are advised to make use of electronic funds transfers (EFT), which minimises crimes of this nature,” said Hadebe.
The Star