Dr. Chris De Kock commends the SAPS' efforts in combating cash-in-transit robberies

Security expert Dr. Chris De Kock has commended the South African Police Services (SAPS) in KwaZulu-Natal for their efforts in what he described as a successful campaign against cash-in-transit (CIT) crimes in the province. Despite recent incidents that revealed CITs to be an ongoing threat, De Kock believes that significant improvements in intelligence and tactics have helped to reduce heist occurrences.

“Statistically, CIT robberies have been declining in the province, which I attribute to effective intelligence operations,” De Kock remarked during an interview with the Daily News. He contrasted the current situation with 2012, when such crimes were rampant, pointing out that the effectiveness of police intelligence has greatly evolved since then.

De Kock's optimistic overview followed two violent CIT robberies that occurred earlier this week in Pietermaritzburg and Verulam. On Monday, a CIT vehicle was reportedly attacked while transporting cash from Cottonlands to Ndwedwe on the P100 road, near Verulam. Armed assailants, driving a Nissan NP200 and a white Isuzu bakkie, ambushed the security vehicle, robbing the guards of their firearms before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash. No injuries were reported.

Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the SAPS provincial spokesperson, confirmed that a manhunt is underway for at least 15 suspects connected to the robbery.

On the same day, another CIT robbery occurred at a Pietermaritzburg shopping centre. It was reported that during the Pietermaritzburg incident, as CIT guards prepared to service an ATM, they were overpowered by armed criminals who seized their weapons and the cash.

While there has been divided opinion on whether police are losing the battle against CIT criminals, De Kock defended their efforts, citing the operational challenges posed by such crimes. “CIT robberies require robust intelligence to be countered effectively.

The perpetrators are often adept at altering their tactics, and as a result, police must maintain a comprehensive understanding of the industry to react to these changes,” he elaborated.

De Kock's assessment comes amidst a backdrop of worrisome statistics presented by the Cash-In-Transit Association of South Africa (CITASA). The organisation revealed that as of March 6, 2025, KwaZulu-Natal accounted for 34% of all CIT robberies across the nation, which marked an increase from the previous year's 27% of more than 200 recorded heists.

This rise directly correlated with a spike in incidents occurring in the early stages of 2025, including four heists reported in the first week of March. Adding to the mounting concerns, SAPS's quarterly statistics for the final quarter of 2024 indicated that KZN experienced 10 cash-in-transit heists, with the national total for that period being 29.

DAILY NEWS