An examination of security measures for the prevention of cash-in-transit robberies in South Africa: a case study of Gauteng

Abstract

The cash-in-transit (CIT) heist robberies are orchestrated at alarming rates in the Gauteng Province and the country in general. The purpose of this study is to examine the security measures aimed at preventing these kinds of robberies. The content of this study examines the adequacy and efficiency of security measures that are used by CIT companies. This study is titled “An Examination of Security Measures for the Prevention of Cash-In-Transit Robberies in South Africa: A Case Study of Gauteng Province”. The researcher has selected 20 former employees of three different CIT companies (G4S, SBV, and Fidelity Security). A population of 50 former CIT security guards was derived from the above-mentioned companies. From the population of 50 former security guards, a sample of 20 participants was selected. The researcher used a qualitative approach method and conducted one-on-one semi-structured interviews with all the participants. The qualitative research method applied in this study included one-on-one semi-structured interview questions and the audio depicted from the interviews used to assist in the analysis of collecting information. The secondary manner of achieving accuracy in the study was to collect data from the following sources: • Media reports on CIT robberies in Gauteng Province; • Information gained from former CIT security guards through one-on-one semi-structured interviews; and • Personal experience, as the researcher worked in the industry. Since the researcher past employee of a CIT company, he was able to make few phone calls to his former colleagues regarding setting up one-on-one semi-structured interviews. From the few former security guards interviewed, participants made recommendations on where to find other possible participants who had knowledge on the subject. All interviews were conducted in the Gauteng Province. All the interviewed participants were recorded with an audio recorder to verify the reliability and validity of the study, and the data analysed at a later stage. Through this research, an exploration is made of the possibility of using criminal career research to develop results aimed at guiding crime prevention policies. The interviews were employed to collect data. To arrive at the number of participants who received quantitative research technique questionnaires and the interview schedule, a sampling method was used. When setting up the study, it was essential to review the research identified in the literature review and to determine whether there is anything relevant to the research design on the proposed study. This study found that CIT heists were gradually affecting the masses in the province of Gauteng Province and has suggested several elements that can rescue the situation for the benefit of society. The general findings of this research highlighted that the CIT organisations should work closely with all relevant stakeholders (the community, banks, law enforcement agencies, research institutions and educational institutions) to curb the crime facing them. The CIT companies should also employ stringent recruitment strategies. The researcher touched on the following issues: • Current security measures used by CIT companies; • Examining the adequacy and efficiency of security measures that are currently in place; • Assessing the risks facing CIT companies; • Establishing the reasons for the rise of the CIT robberies in the Gauteng Province; • Obtaining practical solutions from former CIT security guards on how to prevent robberies; and • Assessing the current recruitment strategy. The research findings outline various recommendations that will ensure security measure improvements for CIT companies. They are also aimed at decreasing the threat that CIT security guards, law enforcement agencies, the banking industry, the community, the government, and all other CIT stakeholders are facing due to the robberies. The recommendations below are arranged according to the different stakeholders who have vast experience in combatting criminality and protecting assets within CIT companies. Charlesworth (2022:03) asserts that a recommendation is a suggestion or proposal for something to be done as a result of the research findings. This can include improvements suggested in the approach of a study or methodology, and provides worthwhile directions for further research. The CIT companies must consider assisting the SAPS financially so that they can have full support in responding to heists. The SAPS helicopters, if serviced and maintained well will, be enough to cover all nine provinces in the country. CIT companies and the government must come together and establish a specialized unit for fighting CIT heists in South Africa. This unit must be provided with specialized vehicles, firearms, and helicopters that will focus only on the fight against CIT heists. Clear communication between CIT control rooms and the SAPS about heists that are currently taking place must be established.

Bohodu bja mohuta wa go thuba difatanaga tšeo di sepedišago tšhelete bo golela godimo ka profenseng ya Gauteng le naga ka bophara. Maikemišetšo a nyakišišo ye ke go hlahloba magato a tšhireletšo go thibela mehuta ye ya bohodu. Diteng tša nyakišišo ye di hlahloba go lekanetša le go šoma gabotse ga magato a tšhireletšo ao ga bjale a šomišwago ke dikhamphani tše tša tirelo ya go sepediša tšhelete. Thuto ye ke “Tlhahlobo ya Magato a Tšhireletšo go Thibela Bohodu bja Tšhelete ye e sepedišwang, ka Afrika Borwa: Thuto ya mohlala ka Gauteng Profense”. Monyakišiši o kgethile bašomi ba peleng ba masomepedi (20) ba dikhampani tše tharo (G4S, Fidelity Security le SBV) tše di fapanego tša go sepediša tšhelete. Monyakišiši o kgethile go boledišana le batšeya karolo, ka o tee ka o tee. Tlhahlobo ya boleng ke yeo e berekišitšwego go hlahloba. Ka nyakišišo ye, go dirilwe gore dikgonagalo tša go šomiša mešomo ya mahodu e tswale dipoelo tšeo di tla berekišwang go beya melawana ya dithibelo tša bosenyi mo tshepedišong ya tšhelete. Dipoledišano le batšea karolo ba ile ba berekišwa go kgoboketša tsebo mo thutong ye. Go fihla palong ya batšeya karolo ba baileng ba fiwa mananeopotšišo a thuto ye. Go šomišitšwe mokgwa wa go tšea mehlala ge go hlongwa nyakišišo. Go be go le bohlokwa go lebelela dinyakišišo tše dingwe tše di bolelang ka molaetša wa go swana le nyakišišo ye, gore e be yeo ikgethilego. Nyakišišo ye e hweditše gore go utswa ga tšhelete ye e sepedišwago go be go ama batho ba ba ntšhi ka Profenseng ya Gauteng gomme go tlišitšwe dinthla tše mmalwa tšeo di ka phološago seemo le go lokolla setšhaba. Dikutollo tša kakaretšo tša nyakišišo ye di laetša gore mekgahlo ya go sepediša tšhelete mebileng e swanetše go šoma kgauswi le bakgathatema ka moka ba maleba (setšhaba, dipanka, ditheo tša phethagatšo ya molao, dihlongwa tša nyakišišo le dihlongwa tša thuto) gore ba thibele bosenyi bjo ba lebanego le bjona. Dikhampani tša go sepediša tšhelete di swanetše go ba le mano a go thwala ao a lekanego, a go ba le maswanedi a maleba. Monyakišiši o ile a fihlelela ditaba tše di latelago: • Go lebelela magato a bjale a tšhireletšo ao a šomišwago ke dikhamphani tša go sepediša tšhelete. • Go šoma gabotse ga magato a tšhireletšo ao a lego gona gabjale. • Go sekaseka kotsi yeo dikhamphani tša tshepedišo ya tšhelete di lebanego le yona. • Go nyaka mabaka ao a dirago gore go swariwa poo ga difatanaga tša go sepediša tšhelete go namelele ka Profenseng ya Gauteng. • Go hwetša ditharollo tše dika šomišwago, go tšwa go bašomi ba pele ba tšhireletšo ya tshepedišo ya tšhelete. Gore go ka thibelwa bjang go swariwa poo ga difatanaga tša go sepediša tšhelete. • Go lebelelwe mokgwa wa go thwala batho, wo o berekišwago ga bjale.