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  • With numerous types of scams around, it is vital that we know how to pay attention to avoid falling victim to these scammers. Our Community Safety Tips published from p48 in Servamus: August 2022 provides valuable tips on spotting scams.

  • Scammers are greedy con-artists who want to make as much money as they can and without thinking about the harm they cause to others. Our article published from p10 in Servamus: August 2022, warn readers about a variety of scams to watch out for.

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By Kotie Geldenhuys
Photos by Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp and Pixabay

Just after 20:00 on Saturday night 21 July 2018, a minibus taxi was travelling down a quiet rural road between the towns of Colenso and Weenen in KwaZulu-Natal when gunmen with automatic weapons opened fire on it. Eleven people were killed and four others critically injured. The victims were all taxi drivers from the Ivory Park Taxi Association, based in Johannesburg who were returning from a colleague’s funeral in KwaZulu-Natal. The taxi in which these 11 men died had more than 250 bullet holes in it (De Greef, 2018 and McCluskey and Yan, 2018). This case is only one of a decades-long battle over taxi routes that has claimed hundreds of lives in South Africa.

By Kotie Geldenhuys

The majority of firearms are legally manufactured - even the ones that were diverted into the illegal pool of firearms in South Africa (Saferspaces, 2016). The United Nations explains the journey of firearms from legal to illegal as that these firearms may pass through “grey” patches where the legal status of a weapon is open to debate. One possibility is when retiring or demobilising soldiers keep their official firearms upon leaving the army, which is legal in some countries.

By Annalise Kempen

“Eastern Cape teacher shot, killed on way home after giving extra lessons at school.” - 14 May 2022.

“Four people dead as gunmen open fire inside Cape Town shop.” - 8 June 2022.

Since crime no longer knows borders and many criminals operate across borders, it is not uncommon to hear about the involvement of citizens from our neighbouring countries in violent crimes, such as cash-in-transit heists. Police need access to every possible tool to help them bring these perpetrators to book which includes the possibility to trace firearms and link them to crime scenes and criminals across international borders.

Servamus - August 2022

Crypto scams costs “investors” millions
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In these tough economic times one cannot blame people if they want their money to grow, especially when good returns are promised, as in the case of cryptocurrencies.
By Kotie Geldenhuys
Diamonds are forever and so are the scams
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Diamonds are not only one of the most beautiful gemstones, it is also the most durable substance known to mankind.
By Kotie Geldenhuys
Paying to get a job: Employment scams
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In a country where 7.9 million people are unemployed (StatsSA, 2022), it comes as no surprise that many people fall for employment scams.
By Kotie Geldenhuys
Do not be a victim of a pet scam
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Every year, more and more light is shed on the cruelty behind the breeding industry that is often kept hidden from the public by breeders.
Article and photos provided by the National Council of SPCAs
Newsflash

Pollex - August 2022

Code of Conduct: Operation Prosper
General Notice 642 of 2021, issued in terms of section 19(2) of the Defence Act 42 of 2002 by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans is published in Government Gazette No 45419 dated 2 November 2021.
Outsource and/or privatise powers and functions of the Correctional Services
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Introduction Have you, the reader (in particular law enforcement officers) ever heard of the following?

Letters - August 2022

Book competition winners
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Congratulations to the following Servamus subscribers who have each won a book in the past few months’ book review competitions:
Reunion group reaches out to Tlapu family
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A resolution adopted in 2018, by a group of retired and serving members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to reach out to needy families, recently benefitted the Tlapu family in Tantanana village outside Phokeng, Rustenburg.
Aug Magazine Cover

Servamus' Mission

Servamus is a community-based safety and security magazine for both members of the community as well as safety and security practitioners with the aim of increasing knowledge and sharing information, dedicated to improving their expertise, professionalism and service delivery standards. It promotes sound crime management practices, freedom of speech, education, training, information sharing and a networking platform.