Criminals target stokvels

Umhlali SAPS spokesperson warrant officer Vinny Pillay, has warned stokvel clubs to be careful as criminals are targeting them.

Pillay said traditonally stokvels share the purse at this time of year and thieves have thier ears to the ground, listening for pay day.

A stokvel is a savings or investment society to which members regularly contribute an agreed amount and from which they receive a lump sum payment. Stokvel memberships start from five people and goes up to 20 or more. A date will be set for the money to be withdrawn and it will be shared on the same day at a certain house in the township. To keep the venue and date of the meeting is not easy.

“Often criminals get to know about it or someone within the club might be the person behind the robbery. They follow them to the bank and rob them after they have withdrawn the money,” said Pillay.

Usually it is the stokvel chairperson or co-ordinator who will go and withdraw the money and Pillay said this should stop.

“The best thing to do, is to get the money transferred into the members’ accounts instead of withdrawing it. Should there be a need to withdraw, they should go as a group.”

Not only the cash clubs are victims, even the food stokvel clubs get robbed and all their groceries are stolen. Vinny said the distribution of the food should be done outside the wholesaler’s premises instead of doing it at an open space in the township or rural area.

* Umhlali SAPS are calling for residents to donate children’s clothes and toys to be distributed to the poor children during the festive season. You can drop off donations at the station or call Pillay on 032-9479900 for collection.

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