We won’t be fooled – Police warn stokvel treasurers

As the festive season draws near, National Commissioner of Police (NatCom) Manoma Vusi Masango has encouraged Emaswati to use digital platforms when sharing their yearly savings.

He said police would no longer be deceived by stokvel treasurers who claim to have been robbed when funds were to be distributed.

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Masango said several stokvels would be sharing their contributions this month, with many people withdrawing large sums from banks while others continued to keep money hidden in their homes.

He stressed that with December being the peak season for criminal activity, scams and fraudulent schemes were rampant, making vigilance essential.

He warned that anyone orchestrating or participating in fraudulent acts would face immediate arrest and prosecution.

“We know that money will go missing from treasurers who then claim they were attacked. What I know is that they cannot fool us. We will arrest them, and they will spend Christmas in jail,” he said.

Tactics

Masango said police were well aware of such tactics and had ‘graduated’ in detecting them.

He cautioned those who keep money in their bedrooms, urging them to deposit their savings safely in the bank.

NatCom further highlighted that dagga farming was a major contributor to the escalating number of murder cases in the country.

He said as long as dagga cultivation remained illegal, police would continue to destroy the plants, noting that the drug was also destroying the future of young people.

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He added that many murders stemmed from disputes linked to dagga farming and reiterated that no officer would remain in their office instead of going out to destroy dagga fields.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman, Madala Mhlanga, wished the police a safe festive season and crossover, saying the nation relied heavily on their protection.

“We expect the police to do everything, and believers understand that there are many traps that arise during this time from the other world, which is why there are so many road accidents,” he said.

Mhlanga added that they hoped God would guide the police as they carry out their duties, noting that pastors across the country would take care of the spiritual aspect during the festive period.

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