Zuid Afrika
..............
"We re****ted the robbery to the police on Tuesday and only received a
response on Friday, but by then we had been robbed twice more," she
said.
* * *
Crime out of control in absence of security
....................................................
'A-Team' terrorises CBD
April 25, 2006
By Samona Murugan, Bhavna Sookha & Sherlissa Peters
Several chain stores in central Durban have been robbed on successive
days as criminals become ever more brazen because of the absence of
security guards, who are currently on strike.
Staff who have been appointed make****ft security guards have been
threatened, assaulted and stabbed in the attacks.
The effect of the security strike has also been felt at the Durban
University of Technology (DUT) - where students have become regular
victims of muggings and had their cars broken into - and in
Pietermaritzburg where businesses have tem****arily shut down after
regular robberies.
In Durban, the notorious "A-Team" - a gang of women accompanied by a
few men and named for their slick operation - has returned, emboldened
by the security strike, to unleash their brand of terror on
businesses.
The team of about 30 women, aged between 25 and 45 years, all armed
with knives, bursts into stores and help themselves to clothing and
other items, while staff, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of numbers,
can only stand and watch. They usually make their get-away in waiting
taxis.
"We don't stand a chance against these criminals with the guards on
strike - we are outnumbered by this A-Team," said the manager of
Milady's in West Street, who did not want to be named.
The manager of Jet in West Street, who would also not be named, said:
"A ca****er who was stationed at the door last Tuesday was pulled
outside and stabbed by a group of armed men thinking he was a security
guard."
Desperate times have called for desperate measures and management is
now stationed at the front entrance of most stores in the city.
A Jet staff member, who is now stationed at the door, is terrified and
fears for his life.
"I am quite scared to stand at the door. It is not even my job, but I
have to do it. We have turns to stand guard, but I feel that at any
minute I am going to be attacked," he said.
"We were hit on Tuesday and on Wednesday and there is nothing that we
can do besides step aside," said Milady's manager.
"We need police patrolling the streets. Last week, during a robbery,
Chubb Security was alerted. When they responded to the alarm, a police
officer actually gave them a parking ticket. The police should be
concerned about the crime rather than issue parking tickets in the
city," she said.
"We re****ted the robbery to the police on Tuesday and only received a
response on Friday, but by then we had been robbed twice more," she
said.
Gus Brand, general manager of The Hub in West Street, said the store
had been broken into yesterday morning and several units of stock had
been taken.
"This is the second time in two weeks we have had a break-in and, with
our daily shoplifting incidents, the situation is escalating out of
control. We have closed off our store's entrance in Smith street,
which makes it a little easier to control access into and out of the
store," said Brand.
Rape case
The DUT has also been negatively affected by the strike, with recent
increases in muggings, car thefts, burglaries at residences and even a
case of rape being re****ted on one campus.
"The increase in crime on the campuses can be attributed to the
nationwide security strike. The majority of our security guards are on
strike," said university spokesman David Sedumedi.
Several students have embarked on a stay-away from lectures and tests
as they fear for their security.
"Cars have been broken into and stolen and students are mugged on a
daily basis. I was robbed of my cellphone and handbag last week. It is
not safe anymore," said marketing student Natasha Govender.
"Management has decided to suspend the academic programme from
yesterday, and lectures will resume on Tuesday, May 2," said DUT
spokeswoman Nomonde Mbadi.
In the CBD, an outraged yet fearful shop owner said: "The city has
become a crime-ridden place. We need visible policing on the streets,
that is the only way to stop this gang," he said.
Nicol Square Community Policing Forum's Nicky Gounden said crime was
spiralling out of control and that the police were aware of the
situation.
He confirmed that the A-Team was back in action and that they were
moving around the city centre.
"The city is not secure anymore. Crime is becoming a serious problem,"
he said.
Metro Police spokesman Alex Wright said officers were on duty in the
CBD but that they could not be expected to do the work of security
guards.
"Parking is a huge problem in the city and we have briefed our parking
enforcement officials to be on the lookout for criminals in the area,"
he said.
In Pietermaritzburg irate business people are calling for an end to
the ongoing security strike after an increasing number of robberies
and shoplifting incidents in the CBD.
Langalibalele Street cellphone shop owner Ismail Bhamjee said he had
been robbed of cellphones and accessories by brazen criminals since
the strike began.
"They walk into the shop and just demand goods from you in full view
of everyone, and we give in because you never know if they are going
to take out a gun and shoot you," he said.
Disheartened
Bhamjee said he had lost close to R5 000 in stock and is so
disheartened by the situation that he has closed his shop until the
strike is over.
"No one wants to shop anymore. They are too scared without the
presence of security, as they should be. Our security guards need to
come back to work," he said.
On Friday, half the businesses in Church Street closed early after
hearing rumours that a mob was running riot through the city. Police
spokesman Supt Joshua Gwala said Morkels furniture store was robbed at
gunpoint.
He said two men were arrested and a television set recovered.
Gwala said another armed robbery took place at Access Business
Commu-nications where cash and cellphones were taken.
"The SAPS Dog Unit responded and caught two suspects while they were
still in the shop. The third suspect escaped with goods and a
firearm," he said.
Restaurant owner Gavin Delmar said his staff were robbed at gunpoint
while re****ting for work on Saturday morning.
"They were all waiting outside for me to open up, when they were
confronted by three armed men and forced to hand over their wallets,
jewellery and cellphones," he said.
Delmar added that if the strike does not end soon and guards are not
back at work, he would be forced to protect his staff, customers and
premises himself, "by whatever means necessary".
Church Street businessman Jona-than Naicker said his business was
robbed of two television sets and a sound system when six armed women
and two men held him and his staff up.
"I lost more than R40 000 in assets. Surely something can be done to
protect our businesses.
"The criminals are calling the shots because they know we are
vulnerable. Our city is in a state of anarchy," he said.
Msunduzi Municipality spokesman S'khumbuzo Mpanza said the council was
aware of the problems being experienced and have already decided on a
plan of action.
"Council is taking these complaints very seriously. Measures will be
taken to alleviate the problem," he said.
|
