WARNING: Scams/muggings at Joburg City Licence offices

On 20 June at approximately noon, my wife went to the Licensing office close to Florida Lake. She was stopped at the entrance of the parking area and asked by a ‘certain gentleman’ whether she had booked an appointment.

When she told him that she had not, he advised her where to park and said he would attend to her ‘just now’. Once she had parked, he started to ‘advise’ and in the process asked ‘relevant’ and ‘right’ questions, which all sounded legitimate. Things like ‘any fines outstanding’, ‘date of licence expiry’, ‘advice on licence renewal costs, photos’ etc … The next moment, he stole her cellphone, purse with money and credit cards. She then noticed his accomplices. She, however, shouted at him to bring back her cellphone and purse, which he then indicated he didn’t have, (he’d obviously already passed it on to one of the other guys).

She shouted at them that she was going to fetch the police. They just calmly walked away to the vehicle from which they were clearly operating. She was very scared and drove away quickly.

They obviously also knew her threat about the police meant nothing, as was proved when we tried to report this to the Florida Police, who told us that they know about these problems and that it happens there often, and that they are also well aware of their modus operandi.

They also said that the Joburg Metropolitan Police Department used to patrol there, but do not do so any more.

My warning is that pensioners like us are soft targets for these CRIMINAL COWARDS. It is also sad that the authorities clearly have no will or intent to stop these crimes, whereas the law-abiding citizens like us are expected to pay our taxes, licences etc.