Komani residents rally to help support electricity crisis teams

The Komani power station caught fire
The Komani power station caught fire
Image: Tembile Sgqolana

The SA Police Service is to deploy an additional 104 “unmarked” high-performance vehicles on the freeways as part of its latest strategy to combat a rise in cash-in-transit heists (CITs).

This was disclosed in parliament yesterday by Police Minister Bheki Cele during a multistakeholder meeting convened by the National Assembly’s police portfolio committee‚ which was called in response to the recent spike in CIT heists that have so far seen at least R114-million stolen from cash transport security firms.

At least 152 CIT heists have been reported this year alone and cash transporting firms can expect to lose at least R470-million through robberies should the current trend continue this year.

Responding to a range of questions on what the police were doing to tackle this crime‚ Cele said among other things‚ they have recently been forced to urgently procure 104 high-performance vehicles that would be deployed on some of the country’s busiest highways to tackle the robbers.

“We’ve had this spike that has [robbed] most of us here [of] sleep …we’ve bought 104 high-performing cars like bread‚ because we needed them‚” said Cele.

“We’re going to put them on the road‚ link them with quick responses … most of them are going to be unmarked and put on the highway ... so that they respond simultaneously.”

subscribe

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.