Delivery vehicles in Soweto are being targeted in full view of the public, in broad daylight, but no one is willing to intervene in case they are targeted by criminals.
It appears that most of the stolen items are sold within the same communities – in many instances, they are sold not far from the crime scene as the criminals are looking for quick cash.
These are not your cash-in-transit-style gangs – they usually also have no intention of hijacking the vehicles, but steal what they can and get away quickly. Some who spoke to Daily Maverick on Friday, 5 July, said hunger had driven them to crime. Others blamed it on both hunger and their drug addiction, especially to nyaope and crystal meth (tik).
“I have not received my R350 (social grant) since the beginning of the year. I am starving, and I left behind a starving family at home. What must I do when nobody wants to hear us? The government is failing us. I should be saying the government failed us,” a self-confessed thief from Kliptown said.
The 28-year-old said he had been involved in stealing from delivery vehicles in Soweto for about 11 months.
One of his alleged partners in crime said: “A mere R350, sir. No offence but I am happy I did not register for it [the social grant]. Our leaders in government do not take us seriously.”
The 23-year-old said he was most angry at the government for failing to provide jobs or create self-employment opportunities.
“The big difference is that if the government provided jobs, we would not be here,” he said.
The younger man said he targeted deliveries ranging from groceries to clothes, and anything that could be carried. The last thing he stole was a bag full of cabbages from a delivery van that morning, which he sold for only R50.
When asked what criteria he applied when charging his customers, he said he only charged according to his needs at the time. On Friday morning he needed R30 for a nyaope fix and vetkoek to eat.
His 28-year-old friend said the most he had stolen was from a liquor delivery truck at a mall in Soweto.
The men said they were aware of the dangers such as being injured by passing traffic as they stole from moving vehicles and had to get away quickly.
Daily Maverick asked the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) for comment on Wednesday.
JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla said: “The JMPD has taken note of the recent surge in attacks and thefts targeting delivery trucks in malls and at red traffic lights around Soweto. These incidents are reported to the South African Police Service [SAPS], where these criminal cases are investigated.”
Fihla said the JMPD was working closely with the SAPS and others to address the issue and prevent further occurrences.
Mxolisi Duma, the manager of a mall in Meadowlands, Soweto, said: “Stealing from cars is a problem here. We have gambling outlets at the centre and there can be lots of movement from potential gamblers and other mall patrons.”
On trying to contact Soweto West cluster communications manager Captain Mpande Khoza, Daily Maverick was told by a police official who picked up his phone that “he recently resigned. There is no one at the moment. He has not been replaced.”
Pamella Zothe, Community Policing Forum chairperson in one of the affected areas in Soweto, told Daily Maverick that crime, especially involving motor vehicles, had spiked.
“It’s not safe. Crimes involving motor vehicles and street robberies are causing us sleepless nights,” Zothe said.
Brazen criminals
Four weeks ago near the Protea Gardens Mall in Soweto, about half a dozen business owners armed themselves with stones and prepared to face off with the criminals as a grey delivery van full of goods arrived. They stoned anyone who got too close to the van, while the group of criminals ran around them.
They eventually managed to escort the delivery van from the traffic lights near the mall to their business premises.
One business owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said the criminals cannot blame hunger for their crimes.
“These guys are just criminals and addicts,” he said.
Modus operandi
The criminals have two methods of working.
They pounce on delivery vans and bakkies as they slow down at a red traffic light, remove as many items as possible from the back of the van and flee. Alternatively, they pounce as the delivery teams deliver items inside the malls.
In the first scenario, the criminals have to be agile and quick, because the vehicle is at the traffic light for only seconds before it drives off again.
In the second scenario, once the criminals are aware of a big delivery or conveniently spot one in progress, they lie in wait in a group. Once the delivery men start taking in the goods, they act. If a delivery man has stayed behind to guard the remaining items, the criminals will intimidate him while they help themselves to what is available in the back of the vehicle.
In many instances, mall guards are aware of the crimes but do very little to deter the criminals or prevent the thefts, except to report them to their management.
A guard in one of the malls, who asked not to be named, said they earned very little and felt that if they were to help guard delivery vehicles, they should be compensated for that. “Most people feel that that is not part of their jobs. But this is not true; we all know they are rebellious because of low pay,” he said.
Reckless driving
The random attacks have forced vulnerable drivers to skip red traffic lights to evade the criminals, something which the JMPD does not condone.
“We strongly advise against this practice. As law enforcement officers, our primary concern is the safety of all road users. Defying red lights can lead to serious accidents and put innocent lives at risk.”
The JMPD said that it advised drivers of delivery vehicles to:
- Be vigilant while driving, especially during peak hours or in high-risk areas;
- Ensure that vehicles are properly secured and valuables are kept out of sight;
- Call the emergency number 011 375-5911 or the National Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or stop at a nearby police station if you notice suspicious activity or feel threatened;
- Consider using alternative routes or avoiding known high-risk areas; and
- Report any incidents or near-miss situations to your nearest police station or call 08600 10111.
‘Bargain price’
Daily Maverick tracked where some stolen items ended up.
A woman who had just bought a children’s T-shirt and pants told Daily Maverick she couldn’t care less where the items came from. “I have the right quality at a bargain price. That’s what matters,” she said.
On another occasion, a man who had bought a 12.5kg bag of mealie meal said his family was hungry. “We have some mealie meal at home, but I will exchange it with neighbours for a packet of rice or resell it at a profit to buy paraffin,” he said.
Asked if he did not fear that he might be hurt or killed by oncoming traffic when he stole from vehicles, a gang member responded: “I’d rather die out there fighting than die complaining of hunger. That’s embarrassing.”
Soweto Business Forum deputy president Palesa Kambule said: “We really condemn the criminality that is happening. We will work with the community and assist the police in apprehending the perpetrators, but we also ask the government to immediately assess the safety of patrons in malls around Soweto.” DM
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