CASH-IN-TRANSIT HEISTS, HOW KZN BECAME GROUND ZERO

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has earned the title of being South Africa’s most dangerous province for cash in-transit robberies, which the statistics confirm. But it’s the images that stay burned in our minds – the burnt-out vans, bullet-riddled cars, and the terrified motorists ducking for cover on our highways. These are not victimless crimes. Each heist plays out like a battlefield scene, putting ordinary citizens in the line of fire.

Why KZN?

Our province is crisscrossed with cash-heavy transport routes, the N2, N3 and N11, perfect escape corridors for syndicates. Organised gangs, often working with insider knowledge, execute these heists with military precision. This precision coupled with stretched policing resources, long rural routes with poor surveillance, and the fact that South Africa still relies heavily on cash transactions, gives us a recipe for disaster.

 The Ripple Effect

For businesses, every heist pushes up insurance premiums and operating costs. For communities, it breeds fear and wears down confidence. For investors, it’s another red flag about investing in KZN. And for the average motorist caught near one of these literally explosive incidents, the consequences can be fatal.

How The Public Can Stay Safe

While the frontline battle belongs to law enforcement, the man in the street can take practical steps to avoid becoming an innocent bystander.

■ Keep your distance from Cash In Transit (CIT) vans. Don’t tailgate or linger nearby them.

■ Be alert, if you notice vehicles boxing in a CIT van or driving erratically, slow down and create space, avoid getting caught up in the battle.

■ If shooting starts, stop at a safe distance, stay low, and use cover. Don’t risk your life trying to video or approach the scene, these syndicates are armed to the hilt.

■ As we head into the festive season, when CIT heists typically rise, caution and awareness become even more critical.

 If You’re Caught In The Crossfire

Stay calm. Remain inside your vehicle if safe or get low behind solid cover. Avoid sudden movements that may draw attention. Once the scene is secure, discreetly share any useful observations with the police, details such as vehicle types, colours, approximately how many suspects and their description, the direction of escape. Resist the urge to post videos on social media; it can compromise investigations, give such video evidence to the police as soon as you can.

Final Thought

Cash-in-transit robberies are not just a police problem or a business risk. They are a public danger that turns everyday commutes into potential war zones. Until authorities win the f ight against these syndicates, awareness and caution remain our best protection. Will it get better? In the short term, probably not, syndicates are entrenched, and policing resources remain stretched. In the medium term, coordinated crackdowns, better intelligence, and private public partnerships could begin to tip the balance. In the long term, only broader economic reform and a reduction in the cash-driven economy will drain the lifeblood of these crimes.

In KZN today, vigilance isn’t paranoia, it’s survival.

T: +27 (0)31 109 1888

E: care@mobiventures.co.za

W: www.mobiventures.co.za