Hijacking has been on the rise in South Africa recently. In late February, vehicle tracking company Tracker indicated the unfortunate upward trend of hijacking related to vehicle crime incidents.
According to Tracker 57.5% of their vehicle crime activities were designated to hijacking activity in the latter portion of 2021. This activity rise falls part of a bigger upward trend tied to hijacking, encompassing the last three years.
Just this week in Gauteng, police recovered three hijacked trucks sporting goods worth over R8-million in Alberton. Police also recovered two trailers and a light motor related to the incident, according to Colonel Dimakatso Sello.
So, the big question on most South Africans’ minds is what it always is: What is the government going to do about this?
according to a recent parliamentary Q&A, Home Affairs and the SANDF (South African National Defence Force) have plans in the works to stop vehicles from crossing our borders. Home Affairs encapsulates the Border Management Authority (BMA), and they’ve reportedly opted to recruit ‘patriotic border guards’.
According to Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, the government has “identified modus operandi” and escape routes that hijacking syndicates use, as per BusinessTech.
This is where the SAPS and SANDF members come in. Military members will reportedly be deployed to “intercept and thwart” the syndicates’ endeavours, as Motsoaledi indicated.
More about the ‘patriotic border guards’
Home Affairs seeks locals to protect our borders, however not just any local will do. Those trained in public security are the ideal candidates for the task at hand according to the vacancies listing by the department. The BMA is an Act focused on managing the movement of people, hoping to keep a firmer grasp on SA’s borders. It was signed in 2020 by Ramaphosa.
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