Meeting on bank-related crimes goes well
People are at risk of being followed by bank criminals to be robbed of their money when they get home.
The Vosloorus SAPS, CPF and managers of Absa Bank and Nedbank Vosloorus held a meeting on Wednesday, November 9 to discuss bank-related crimes.
The meeting was led by Wiseman Langa from Vosloorus CPF. The aim of the meeting was to find the way forward regarding bank-related crimes, especially for the upcoming festive season.
Langa said their aim is to make sure that the community is safe as the festive season is approaching.
“We have done a lot for our community since we started this awareness campaign in June.
“We have involved South African Banking Risk Centre (SABRIC) in the campaign. They came and workshopped us on how bank criminals work. After the workshop we visited community members, churches, public meetings, societies and media to educate people about how bank criminals operate,” said Langa.
“At the meeting with the bank managers we found that there had been a decrease in reports of such crime and that the campaign was a success. But there is a lot that still needs to be done, as bank managers reported that there are people who are still withdrawing a lot of money ranging from R3 000 to R90 000 and carrying it around.
“Those people are at risk of being followed by bank criminals to be robbed of their money when they get home.
“The solution we came up with was that, in order to help these people, we are still going to do these campaigns at councillors’ monthly meetings and do presentations there,” Langa said.
Langa said that during the meeting they arranged a big bank crime awareness campaign at Chris Hani Crossing Mall. The date of the meeting will be communicated via the media closer to the time.
“That meeting will include all the banks. So people must come in their numbers to attend,” he said.
According to SAPS communication officer at Vosloorus Police Station, Capt Piet Roussouw, the campaigns they have been running were a success.
“Ever since we involved the media, a lot of arrests have been made. Thanks to you guys (media).
“I would like to advise people not to withdraw large sums of money. They must rather do electronic transfers.
“If there is a need to withdraw a lot of money, please arrange with the police station. We have arranged to escort everyone who is withdrawing a lot of money. But that arrangement is for Vosloorus Police Station, not for other police stations,” said Roussouw.
The bank managers who were present at the meeting were Bonisiwe Hadebe from Absa Bank and Teboho Nkoane from Nedbank, both from the branches in Chris Hani Crossing Mall.
