Question NW1203 to the Minister of Police
26 October 2021 - NW1203
Majozi, Ms Z to ask the Minister of Police
Whether, following his statement in February while delivering the third quarter crime statistics that SA Police Service (SAPS) must change its responses to the cash-in- transit heists and other similar kinds of robberies, the SAPS has made any significant strides in implementing different arid more effective solutions to the specified robberies, particularly cash-in-transit heists; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1395E
Reply:
Yes, a total of 230 members from various specialised units within the South African Police Service (SAPS) were deployed, since last year, in the five most problematic provinces, namely; Gauteng, Mpumalanga, !he Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the North West, in order to direct law enforcement structures and empower them with the necessary expertise and resources, to reduce and prevent the increasing scourge of Cash-in-Transit (CIT) crimes.
CIT Centres, which are coordinated by the Provincial Operational Command Centres (POCC), have been established in the abovementioned provinces.
A threat analysis was conducted, in which firearms and explosives ware identified as the enablers of CIT robberies and interventions were subsequently developed and
implemented to neutralise this threat.
Compliance inspections at various mines have been intensified by the Office of the Chief Inspector, from the SAPS’ Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), in collaboration with members from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI). Members attached to the Firearms and Explosives Unit, in the DPCI, have also intensified compliance inspections at various firearm shops and security companies, in collaboration with the FSL Ballistics Section and linkages are being established, by the FSL, in respect of the firearms that are being used during CIT robberies.
SAPS members at ports of entry, such as Beitbridge and Lebombo, have been trained in the identification of explosives and sniffer dogs are also used at the border posts to detect explosives.
All CIT companies are compelled to vet all of their personnel, to identify and eliminate collusion from within the companies. Stakeholder meetings with all the CIT companies are held monthly, to evaluate and review the progress that has been achieved with the reduction of CIT crimes.
Bilateral meetings with Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana are being arranged, through INTERPOL, to discuss collaboration on mechanisms; to reduce the smuggling of explosives and firearms into South Africa.
Reply to question 1203 recommended
GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 2021-05-26
Reply to question 1203 approved
MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH, CELE, MP
Date: 28-19-2021