Car spiking hotspots to look out for on Gauteng roads

With every crisis comes an opportunity… South Africa’s unemployment problems have contributed to an increase in opportunistic crime, such as the “car spiking” trend which has seen a rise in Gauteng.

“This is not organised crime syndicates or sophisticated crimes, but rather a situation of desperate people realising motorists at night are isolated soft targets,” said says Dr Johan Burger, a senior researcher and policing expert.

Vehicle spiking incidents are reported almost every night on the road safety WhatsApp Groups in Gauteng. Despite hotspot lists being circulated, incidents are rising.

The tyre spiking hotspots were released by the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) to create awareness among motorists travelling on Gauteng roads.

Vehicle spiking hotspots to look out for in Gauteng

• The N4 Mpumalanga to Pretoria, between Solomon Mahlangu and Watermeyer off-ramp.
• R21 freeway from OR Tambo International Airport to Pretoria
• R562 in Olifantsfontein
• N17 between Rondebult and Heidelberg Road
• N12 between Klersdorp and Potchefstroom
• N4 to Rustenburg between R80 Mabopane freeway and Brits Plaza tollgate Golden Highway
• N4 Pretoria to Mpumalanga between Bronkhorstspruit and Balmoral off-ramp
• N1 Polokwane and N4 Mpumalanga interchange in Pretoria
• N12 in Witbank under the Merridale bridge
• N3 between Leondale and Barry Marias Road

“If you manage to get the vehicle to a standstill, you can attack fast and disappear into the night. There is not much more than jewellery, cash and cell phones to rob. The concern is that there is a black market where these items can be sold,” averred Burger.

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No changes

“It has been six months after Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga was robbed and her bodyguards stripped of their guns, while travelling on the N3 near Heidelberg. To date no arrests have been made,” said Chief Executive Officer at Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) Martlé Keyter.

This is a big concern for the union representing more than 64 000 members in the retail motor industry.

Burger explains that crime is much more complex than what it seems. It is clear with the spike in incidents, that law enforcement authorities are aware of the hot spots, but does not have the manpower to increase visibility and frequency in patrolling these areas.

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