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Increased hi-jacking in Gauteng area
Despite assurances that crime will be tackled “head on” by the authorities, hi-jackings have increased in the Gauteng area, where “designer criminals” target couriers and place special orders amongst the gangs, targeting bulk loads including high value items such as computers, office equipment and peripheral equipment that can easily be sold on the black market. Several companies have fallen prey in the last few months, being attacked at night when there is less visibility and security systems are scaled down. The last attack resulted in an I.T. company losing R400 000 worth of stock, in a brutal, vicious attack where the courier staff were threatened by a gang of armed thugs who beat them up and made off with their loot. The same freight company was targeted a few weeks later, resulting in botched hi-jacking attempt by men dressed in police uniforms, brandishing guns but this attempt was thwarted by a quick thinking driver who managed to raise the alarm. Police have yet to make a break through in this case.
There is a silent resilience by the entrepreneurs who run their businesses in this industry, as most are too afraid to go public as they fear the negative publicity could have an adverse affect on their business. So most hide behind a veil of silence and attempt to absorb the costs, since in many instances, their payment is delayed pending insurance claims and consignors deliberately hold the transporter liable and withhold payment to subsidise their own cash flow due to delayed payment and losses incurred.
Ultimately, this will result in higher transport costs for high value items, as more and more courier companies find the risk not worth their while, and the additional costs in security such as armed guards cannot be passed on due to the competitiveness of the industry and contractual pricing which sets the price for a pre-determined period.
The criminals often infiltrate the logistics chain, obtaining inside information from consignor employees as well as the freight company, establishing collection times and vulnerable areas. In most cases bribes are offered or the criminals use intimidation tactics, threatening staff to obtain information.
The freight industry is still reeling form the recession and with several companies teetering on the brink of liquidation, large and small, the removal of players in the industry will result in less competition and the possibilities of price increases become inevitable.
Media release by Cape Couriers
