Police warn locals against hitchhiking in Giyani area
Hitchhiking in Giyani has traditionally been a convenient way to get a ride home without spending too much money on a taxi fee.
However, nowadays, the safety of hitchhiking spots has become a concern as more people and more people become victims of robbery. Highlighting the spread of robberies at hiking spots, Giyani police spokesperson, Sgt Ridgewell Rikhotso, detailed several recent cases across different locations in Giyani where robbery incidents were reported.
“Some of the cases that we come across are those of women coming to town to collect their social grants, buy groceries and then go to hiking spots to catch a lift home,” he explained. Rikhotso was speaking during a Greater Giyani mayoral imbizo held recently at Shimawusa village. “Some of these women don’t make it home; they are robbed at hiking spots by individuals offering them rides.
Also read: Police warn of hitchhiking crime syndicates in Mopani
“As a result, people end up losing more because they refused to spend R15 on a taxi that could have safely taken them home,” he cautioned Giyani residents. “Another victim from Siyandhani village withdrew R40 000 and chose to walk home with it because he thought it was not far. “He was accosted along the way and was robbed of all his cash,” he said.
Also read: A group of armed robbers targets hitchhikers at Siyandhani crossroads
He said the incident could have been prevented if he had opted to take a taxi home instead of walking. Rikhotso said that criminals nowadays have portable cash acceptance devices which they use to clean out a victim’s bank account using their bank card. “If you don’t have enough money in your bank account they would force you to call your relatives to deposit money in your bank or physical harm you, like breaking your legs with a hammer,” he said.
Rikhotso also touched on spaza shop robberies, saying some spaza shops close late which he said creates fertile grounds for criminals to flourish. “All spaza shops should be closed by 20:00 as it is not safe when it they stay open later. “Criminals would go to the spaza pretending to buy a bag of maize meal, when the owner opens the door to hand them their purchase, they attack you,” he said.
