Despite the online Natis booking system at the Roodepoort Licensing Station – among others – showing positive results, according to the head of the station, Teddy Msimang, the criminal element outside the premises remains.
In the most recent disturbing incident, a man was arrested outside the station allegedly in possession of an unlicensed firearm, said Msimang.
On a tour of the facility and its newly added buildings, it was obvious that during his tenure as head of the department to date, things have changed for the better. One of the most obvious changes is the almost complete absence of queues. The overall system also seems to be more user-friendly. But Msimang admits that he is fighting an uphill battle with the scamsters outside the property.
Also Read:
https://roodepoortrecord.co.za/2017/07/28/licensing-station-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
The modus operandi of these criminals has changed slightly, with them now capitalising on the new online booking system. The public is still uncertain of the processes, yet out of ignorance or unfortunately in some cases laziness, the scams remain profitable for the criminals. Whereas the scamsters used to tell potential victims that they had a contact inside that can help them quickly, for a ‘fee’, they now tell victims that they are not allowed to go in as per the new booking system and that they have been sent to collect the documentation and money from the victim. And the public are still falling for this new version of the scam.
In a nutshell, Msimang summed the solution up as follows – “The public must assist us with one simple request/ instruction and that is not to talk to anyone outside the building. Only speak to the civil servants inside who can be identified by the name badges they wear. We plead with the public to follow this one simple rule,” he concluded.
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