With several institutions of higher learning soon to reopened for this academic year, many students intending to register for the first time will be flocking there. Police in Soshanguve, Mabopane and Ga-Rankuwa have alerted students to be vigilant of opportunistic robbers.
The warning comes after the police received complaints in the past years about students who often got mugged on their way to register at universities or colleges. Police said in addition to purse-snatchings, robberies and theft, there were several minibus drivers who operated with the thugs, following widespread cases where prospective students lost their registration monies either on the way to the institutions or at the taxis around Soshanguve and Ga-Rankuwa. Police have warned residents and students to be wary of minibus taxis and getting robbed.
According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Lolo Mangena, they have recently received an alarming number of reports on taxi drivers who operated with suspected criminals. He told Rekord that several robbers followed a modus operandi to escort students to the nearest taxi rank. “We urge young people who are going to register at various institutions of higher learning to be vigilant of criminals. Students are perceived as people who have money, especially in January as they are going to register at universities or colleges. It is important not to ask anyone on the street for directions or about taxi ranks,” he said.
He said out of town students from Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and other surrounding provinces were often victims, as they were unfamiliar with the areas. Mangena urged students not get into dubious taxis. “They must walk in groups of at least three people and with people they know or trust. They must be attentive even in the taxis because some of these robbers work with the drivers.”
Residents are requested to report any suspicious criminal activities to the police on the police toll-free number, 0860-10111 or SMS the crime line on 32211.
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