Unacceptably high Cash in transit (CIT) stats in Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and the North West, particularly around Rustenburg, are an increasing concern says Wahl Bartmann, CEO of Fidelity Services Group.
“There is no doubt that we are seeing isolated spikes in vehicle attacks in these more outlying areas,” says Bartmann. Between January and June this year there has been a total of 127 incidents with 32 injuries and 1 fatality. Most of these have occurred in these outlying areas. Rustenburg in particular is a problem area, with the last vehicle attack occurring as recently as last Saturday. Bartmann says it appears as if earlier syndicate groups are re-emerging and targeting these more vulnerable areas. “We are working with SAPS to address our concerns and are working hard with other role players in the industry to try and determine the root cause of these attacks.”
Bartmann also noted that although Gauteng stats have remained static he was concerned to see that over the last two weeks alone a CIT van was bombed in Germiston and another in Hammanskraal in the Pretoria area.
“At Fidelity we have invested a lot of time, money and research into developing and onboarding technological defense mechanisms as well as in the training of our highly skilled officers. We have successfully defended a number of the attacks but believe urgent attention is needed as we approach the second half of the year, a traditionally vulnerable time when CIT incidents increase the closer we get to the festive season. The majority of the incidents are vehicle bombings and not only do these account for the biggest financial loss but they often lead to fatalities as well and this is unacceptable,” he concludes.
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