Stokvel members urged to be vigilant about their cash payouts
"Members of the stokvels are urged to at least share the money electronically."
Rietgat police have called on members of different stokvels to be more vigilant about their cash payouts as the year draws to an end and profits are shared.
Police spokesperson Captain Stephen Maluleka said the station has over the years during the last quarter of the year, opened cases of stokvel or bank robberies.
“As the station’s constitutional imperative of making sure the inhabitants are and feel safe, the Rietgat police would like to advise the community to be more cautious with their money, at home, at stokvel meetings or at the shopping complexes where various banks are located.”
Maluleka urged community members to be more careful at ATMs or at branches where large sums of money were withdrawn.
“The station has experienced cases where victims were followed to their homes and at worst, assaulted or shot at in the process of these robberies.
“Members of the stokvels are urged to at least share the money electronically in the bank and distribute it according to the dividends made by members of the stokvel.”
Tips on how to avoid being a victim:
– Do not share information of when and where you are going to share your stokvel dividends with anyone.
– Avoid hiring cars of people you do not know to accompany you to the bank.
– Avoid posting on social media about your check-ins and checkouts.
– Refrain from carrying large sums of money.
– Be careful of stokvel members who are in arrears on their savings, some may have ill intentions.
– The executive of the stokvel should make arrangements with the bank to transfer cash directly to each member’s account instead of physically collecting cash, to avoid being targeted by criminals.
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