Randburg and Sandton SAPS, the Randburg Community Policing Forum, private security companies and shopping centre management conducted a crime awareness campaign outside Pick n Pay on Nicol on July 17.

The campaign focused on educating motorists and shoppers about crimes reported around the busy Winnie Mandela Drive intersection, including robberies at traffic lights, vehicle break-ins and theft.

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Sector manager: Randburg Sergeant Gerry Maluleke encouraged motorists to remain vigilant and avoid using their cellphones while stopped at intersections, warning that criminals often target distracted drivers.

The campaign also promoted awareness of gender-based violence and encouraged victims to report offences and seek assistance.

Sandton Gate precinct manager Lebo Mashego said the initiative reflects the partnership between the Sandton and Randburg policing precincts, with the shared goal of creating safer public spaces.

“This is an awareness campaign. The shopping centre sits on the boundary of two policing precincts, Sandton and Randburg, so the intention is to raise awareness among the general public and demonstrate the partnership between the two precincts. Our goal is to create safer spaces for everyone, and that’s why we are supporting this initiative.”

Equites Protection Services representative Maria Nyathi-Msimango said recent incidents, including two vehicle thefts at the shopping centre within three months and armed robberies of motorists waiting at nearby traffic lights, highlighted the need for continued public awareness.

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She added that the campaign follows a previous successful initiative that was launched after a series of home robbery incidents affecting customers.
“The security company that I represent is Equites, which provides security for this store and the shopping centre. We have been experiencing break-ins to customers’ vehicles.

We’ve lost two vehicles within the space of three months.

We’ve also been receiving complaints from customers who have been robbed at gunpoint while sitting in their vehicles at the traffic lights outside the centre. That’s why this meeting was arranged a few weeks ago.

We suggested that we needed to conduct a crime awareness campaign.”

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