The Brakpan SAPS held its monthly stakeholders’ meeting to introduce acting station commander Colonel Eugene Scheepers before addressing crime trends in town on July 17.
Consumer fraud remains a serious problem, and multiple stakeholders saw a rising trend in phishing scams.
“The public is reminded not to click on unknown links or make payments for goods and services not yet received,” Scheepers explained.
Another worrying trend observed by security service stakeholders is business robberies in the central business district of town by a syndicate that frequently wears gorilla or tiger masks. The SAPS is collaborating with the security industry to investigate this.
Cases of attempted murder, assault, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and theft of and out of motor vehicles are still increasing, but other cases are decreasing.
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The SAPS also picked up on a spike in card cloning reports and reminded the public not to let anyone stand near them at ATMs or see their PIN when they enter it anywhere.
AfriForum brought a criminal case against the municipality, made in 2017, regarding the ongoing air pollution coming from the Plastic City informal settlement, back to the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court. The NPA representative,
Advocate Dick Hattingh, is collaborating with them on the matter.
A new problem on the road through Plastic City, jokingly dubbed the “Plastic City Toll Gate” by stakeholders, has reared its head. Some individuals have blockaded the road to ask for money, claiming they are using it to fix the road.
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“They must be doing it because the road is looking somewhat better,” said Lieutenant Colonel Pearl van Staad, the Vispol support head for the Brakpan SAPS.
“However, she also explained that obstructing the road like that is against the law and that the SAPS will investigate the matter.
“Businesses have reported robberies in the mornings or evenings, at opening or closing times, while they carry large sums of cash to the bank or stock the tills.”
The SAPS warns business owners not to carry large sums of cash at any time and to find safer alternatives to transport the money.
Freedom Front Plus PR Clr Riaan van Zyl told the stakeholders that the council is working on replacing street lights in town, which is taking longer than anticipated because many of the lights have stopped working due to cable theft.
