LIMPOPO – In a statement issued by LT Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe, women are being urged not to carry large amounts of cash on their person.
According to the statement, around this time of the year, Stokvel societies divide the money have saved up amongst themselves. In recent years, members of such organisations have been targeted by criminals and they are therefore being urged to share their funds electronically instead of carrying large amounts of cash on them to prevent it being stolen.
Ngoepe states in past years, the province experienced a high rate of armed robberies where thousands of Stokvel money was stolen in separate incidents. Members of a Stokvel in Bolobedu travelled to Tzaneen to withdraw their Stokvel money but were intercepted on the way back to Bolobedu where they were robbed of more than R100 000. In another incident in Bellville village, Stokvel money was stolen from the home of a Stokvel member before it could be distributed to the other members the following day.
Members of the community, especially women involved in Stokvels, should not carry large amounts of cash on them but should make use of electronic cash transfers.
Fighting crime is everyone’s business, let us join hands in the fight against crime, Ngoepe says.
Business people are also being warned not to keep large amounts of cash on the premises but to deposit it into their bank accounts immediately. As it is the festive season and people spend more money during this period than the rest of the year, they need to be vigilant and take care of their possessions at all times.
