Hijackings highlighted as problem crime in monthly stakeholders meeting

Brakpan SAPS held their monthly stakeholders meeting at the State Mines Country Club on June 25 to discuss the most worrying crime trends and progress made in combatting crime, or plans to do so.

Vispol commander Colonel Robert Makopo headed the meeting, and though attendance was scarce, important discussions were held.

In the crime overview, it was noted that most crimes were unchanged or improved, but that hijackings were the biggest concern this month (May to June).

The R554, R23, N17, Airport Drive and Rangeview Road are hotspots for this crime, as they provide quick and easy getaway routes for the hijackers.

A trend of hijackers hiding stolen vehicles in the field near Midas in Dalpark was noted, and police hope that targeting this area during searches will deliver better results.

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Theft of motorcycles in Anzac and Leachville are picking up again as well, with the same modus operandi of stretching cable across the road to knock drivers off their motorcycles.

Regarding illegal mining, it was noted that the miners now acquire licences to “rehabilitate” old mining grounds, and they do this legally, and then they mine under the pretence of soil rehabilitation.

As a result of this, it’s difficult to charge them with illegal mining, as they just claim that they were digging for official purposes. A way forward on this matter is being discussed.

A concern noted by Charl Bronkhorst from the private security industry is that pedestrian robberies are on the rise, but due to the somewhat petty nature of the crime, it rarely gets reported, and without reports, arrests can’t be made.

He encourages members of the public to report such cases so that the robbers, who are known to private security, can be brought to book.

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It was also revealed that members of the public who witness such a robbery can make a report on behalf of an anonymous victim, and they can be prosecuted purely on witness testimony.

This was explained by Advocate Dick Hattingh, the senior public prosecutor for the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court. As long as a witness can positively identify the robber, they can be prosecuted.

SDS Protection, the private security company contracted by the City of Ekurhuleni to protect essential infrastructure, thanked all the stakeholders present that were involved in the arrest of two cable thieves recently. (Drone surveillance helps nab suspected cable thieves in Minnebron, Brarkpan Herald, June 9)

Hattingh also noted that more cases need to be handled properly when it comes to illegal mining and tampering with and theft of essential infrastructure, as they are priority crimes for the courts in terms of prosecution.

He reminded stakeholders that if such a case is handled properly, the sentences are hefty and a good deterrent. He also applauded the appointment of two regional court prosecutors in Brakpan.

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A complaint Hattingh had was that the courts see a lot of possession of illicit substances, but very few charges of dealing in drugs.

He pointed out that the successful prosecution of dealers from just one of the known drug houses in town will also act as a deterrent for other dealers.

“There is a drug epidemic in our town, they are killing our children and destroying families. We need to target the dealers, not the buyers,” he said.

Another concern he had was the low rate of investigating officers opposing bail. A bail application’s success or failure relies on the opinion of the investigating officer, rather than the prosecutor, and as such many criminals walk free when officers don’t oppose bail.

AfriForum again requested that SAPS and the NPA follow up on their case regarding the Plastic City informal settlement, but also requested that SAPS and EMPD target the settlement with law and by-law enforcement, as health, environmental and crime concerns continue to plague the surrounding community.