Police in the Uthukela Cluster would like to offer timely advice to Stokvel clubs ahead of the holiday season so they do not lose their hard-earned money to criminals.
Stokvel-related robberies and thefts are most prevalent from about this time of the year, so police urge Stokvel clubs to be proactive and adopt reasonable measures to safeguard their money.
Instead of withdrawing large amounts of cash from banks to pay out money to members, rather transfer the money into the members’ bank accounts. Those members who do not have bank accounts should be encouraged to open them.
Clubs that have to pay cash to their members, a practice which is inadvisable, should ensure that they have a secure venue with adequate safety measures in place when dividing and paying members their share of the year’s savings.
Stokvel clubs can also request their local police to patrol the vicinity of the venue where they are to make payments to their members, as this would deter criminal elements.
Members of Stokvel clubs should be vigilant and take precautions to safeguard their money when making withdrawals at ATMs or from within banks, since people are often targeted after leaving banks.
You should not withdraw large amounts of money, especially after hours when the streets are quiet and criminals are likely to be lurking around, but rather use ATMs at shopping malls during business hours when it is safer or where there are security officials on duty.
Be careful with whom you share information about when, where and how you are going to withdraw the cash; and keep the details of how, where and when you are to share the money quiet. The fewer the people who know about your movement and actions, the better.
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