The Festive Season’s Other List: How Criminals Track Stokvel Payouts

As communities across Limpopo prepare to share the fruits of a year’s disciplined saving, authorities are issuing a stark warning: criminal syndicates have your stokvel payout on their list too. With December being the peak period for stokvel distributions, the Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Violet Mathye, is urging a major behavioral shiftaway from cash entirely.

“Criminals are watching, and they strike fast,” Mathye cautioned. She highlighted that gangs actively monitor banking halls, ATMs, and even social gatherings, following victims to their homes to rob them of their hard-earned savings. The advice is clear and urgent: switch to electronic transfers for all contributions and payouts.

A Case in Point: The Nkowankowa Robbery

The warning follows a distressing incident in Nkowankowa last Saturday, where a 55-year-old woman was attacked at dawn. As she fetched water, two men overpowered her, pointed a firearm, and forced her into her bedroom. The assailants stole a plastic bag containing a substantial amount of stokvel savings and her cellphone before fleeing. The victim was injured during the ordeal.

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba reiterated the plea: communities must not keep large sums of money at home.

The Safety Blueprint: Go Digital, Stay Discreet

The department’s safety blueprint is a direct response to this predictable annual crime wave:

• Ditch the Cash: Use electronic transfers for payouts and monthly contributions.

• Operate in Secrecy: Do not publicise meeting times, payout dates, or venues.

• Bank with Caution: Stay vigilant when entering or leaving financial institutions.

• Report Suspicion: Immediately alert police to any suspicious behaviour.

The message from authorities is one of proactive community defence. “Let us be proactive, vigilant and responsible with our finances. Together, we can prevent crime and protect our hard-earned savings,” Mathye stated.

For the thousands of stokvels in the province, this festive season’s most important transaction might not be the payout itself, but the collective decision to move it silently and securely online, keeping both the celebration and the savings safe.

{Source: IOL}

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