Man, 62, killed in stokvel cash robbery in Umbumbulu
KwaZulu-Natal police have urged the members of the public not to keep large sums of stokvel money in their homes as they could become an easy target for thieves.
Stokvel members at a Thenjane Reserve home in Umbumbulu were robbed of their cash on Tuesday.
Police say the five members were meeting to divide their stokvel money when four armed suspects ambushed them.
KZN police spokesperson, Thembeka Mbele says the gunmen opened fire on the group killing a man.
"They fired shots at the stokvel members and struck four members. The suspects fled the scene with a large sum of cash. The injured victims were taken to hospital for medical attention where a 62-year-old man later died," she said.
Mbele says charges of robbery and murder were opened at Umbumbulu SAPS.
"We know that most of these societies are going to be dividing their stokvel money but we need to teach not to inform anyone if they are going to draw the money, even within the family."
"They must also use alternative routes, don't use one route to the bank. They must try and encourage the stokvel members to open accounts, so that when they come, the money is transferred to their accounts to avoid being victims of robbery," she said.
Tip to avoid being a victim of cash robberies:
1. Alternate the days and times on which you deposit cash.
2. Refrain from making cash deposits.
3. Never make your bank visits public, even to people close to you.
4. Do not openly display the money you are depositing while you are standing in the bank queue.
5. Avoid carrying money bags, briefcases or openly displaying your deposit receipt book.
6. It’s advisable to identify another branch nearby that you can visit to ensure that your banking pattern is not easily recognizable or detected.
7. If the amount of cash you are regularly depositing is increasing as your business grows, consider using the services of a cash management company.
8. Refrain from giving wages to your contract or casual labourers in full view of the public rather make use of wage accounts that can be provided by your bank.
9. Refrain from driving to the bank in your company branded vehicle on a typical ‘pay day.’
10. Consider arranging for electronic transfers of wages to your contract or casual labourers’ personal bank accounts.
11. Transfer stokvel money into members accounts from the bank or through internet banking.
