Sapo head of national security, Vossie Vos, has attributed this trend to security upgrades carried out of late. These upgrades were done first at high-risk branches and are continuing to be implemented at post offices countrywide. According to Vos, the measures include “improved, alarm systems, counter screens, burglar bars, security doors, high strength safes and dye stain technology for cash that is taken as well as security guards, where advisable”.

OFM News previously reported that six of Sapo’s branches were robbed by armed criminals last week. The robberies, five of which were in the Western Cape alone, occurred as grants by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) were being disbursed to beneficiaries countrywide. Central South Africa was not exempt from this trend, with the Botshabelo Post Office in the Free State facing the same fate as its Western Cape counterparts. Fortunately, the security measures led to two armed robberies in the North West and Eastern Cape being foiled.

The Western Cape robberies took place at the Dunoon, Belhar, Charlesville, Pacaltsdorp and Dan Bay post offices in Cape Town, George, and Mossel Bay respectively. Authorities managed to make arrests in connection with the Dunoon and Botshabelo robberies. Three men and one woman were nabbed in Dunoon, whilst in Botshabelo two suspects are in custody for their alleged participation in the armed robbery. In the latter incident, police are still in search of evidence linking the accused and their three accomplices, who are still at large, to the crime. 

Sapo’s head of security says the criminals’ modus operandi “vary continuously and the post office keeps its branch staff informed of all the modus operandi to ensure that they notice suspicious behaviour”. Vos further adds that statistics indicate that business robberies across the board are at their peak, at the end and beginning of a new month – implying this isn’t something that affects Sassa service points alone.

OFM News