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BFC & Safe City

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Business Fighting Crime

BFC is body that was formed, when the organisation known as Businesses Against Crime, had to be disbanded.

The newly constituted BFC continued to achieve its core objectives, which are to assist businesses in the fight against crime.

Over the years BFC have been involved in several initiatives to make PMB a safer place to live in, namely the:

  1. Safe City Project (now known as Safe City Msunduzi (Pty) Ltd) being the CCTV cameras that are strategically located throughout the City.
  2. The Car Guard System.
  3. Horse stables.
  4. Building of an Identity Room (ID) at Hilton SAPS.
  5. LOTS project (“Living Off The Streets”). A project that saw a team effort with the Municipality, in taking kids of the street, into a shelter to be rehabilitated.

BFC continues to be involved in several forums, namely:

  1. Banking Forum – A forum comprising of all banks, malls and cash in transit companies.
  2. Police Cluster Meeting – A forum comprising of all SAPS stations throughout Umgungundlovu, municipality, traffic departments, state prosecutors office and other relevant stakeholders.

PMCB continues to supply the necessary administrative support to BFC at an affordable cost as BFC are solely reliable on donations.

The executive committee of the BFC meet regularly and table many issues facing business and its quite clear that the committee can do so much more, if they had more funding. Business are urged to assist BFC in whatever sponsorship they may offer to ensure that BFC can continue to do what it does best.

BFC Annual Report 2023

SAFETY TIPS

TIPS AT AN ATM

1) Visit the ATM that you are familiar with.
2) Do not accept any form of assistance from strangers even security guards.
3) Do not expose your pin code to anyone.
4 ) Do not be distracted by the suspects – step away and let them leave.
5) Check the ATM if all the lights are working where you insert your card.
6) Don’t visit the ATM very early or late in the afternoon.
7) Don’t give your pin to friends and family to draw with your cards for you.
8) Report stolen or lost cards immediately to your respective bank.

IN THE CBD 

1) Do not have your windows or doors open.
2) Do not display any of your possessions on your seat of your car.
3) Be extra careful at robots and standing in traffic. Do not be distracted.
4) Don’t talk on your phones whilst stationery in traffic.
5) Women drivers and pedestrians are soft targets – don’t be a victim.
6) Don’t wear all your gold chains and rings to work – keep them for functions.
7) Be careful when withdrawing large sums of cash – take someone with you.
8) Don’t fall for scams regarding dropped/found money on the floor.
9) Be careful for bogus cops in the cbd – money scam – don’t jump into their cars.
10) Don’t be caught by the so-called faith healers – they only want your money. You cannot win the lotto – they cannot double your money – they cannot get cars and houses.

IN THE OFFICE, ALWAYS

• Be aware of strangers
• Secure your valuables
• Protect computer passwords
• Report suspicious activities to your supervisor or manager
• Lock your office when you are away
• Bank your cash often in the day and use security cash-in-transit services
• Secure your premises using accredited security and armed response services.

WHEN WALKING, ALWAYS

• Be alert especially in congested areas
• Avoid desolated streets/lanes
• Conceal your valuables
• Secure your hand bag
• Answer/ talk on your cell phone in a secure place.

WHEN DRIVING, ALWAYS

• Stay alert
• Keep your car windows closed
• Keep your car doors locked
• Secure your motor vehicle, to prevent it being stolen to commit other crimes
• Report suspicions persons/ vehicles

AT HOME, ALWAYS

• Keep security gates locked
• Indicate there are other persons at home with you
• Ask certain visitors for their identity before opening gates and doors
• Secure your valuables
• Keep emergency numbers in an accessible place
• Report suspicious behaviour

GET RICH QUICK SCHEMES

1) Don’t fall into the trap of quick rich scams- before paying any money check with the FINANCIAL SERVICES BOARD (021 428 800/021 428 8176) if the so-called Company is registered with them for conducting business.

SAFETY ANTI HIJACKING TIPS

1. *The 5-Minute Rule*

Make it a habit to focus on your surroundings when you are 5 minutes from your home. Be extra alert. Switch off the car radio and concentrate on your surroundings. If you have noticed any vehicle behind you, do not pull into your driveway or even attempt to open your security gate. Drive to your nearest police station.

2. *Keep It In Reverse*

Remember to stop your vehicle just on the inside of the gate and select reverse whilst waiting for the gate to close. This creates confusion and may buy you a few seconds for the gate to close completely behind you. Try not to pull into your driveway, rather wait in the road with your indicator on while observing your surroundings before turning into your driveway or garage.

3. *Light It Up*

Make sure your driveway is well lit and clear from shrubbery where perpetrators can hide.

4. *Extra Eyes*

When returning home after dark, ensure that an outside light is on, or have someone meet you at the gate.

5. *Watch Out For Traps*

If you are having trouble with your motorised gate when you arrive home, do not get out of your vehicle to open your gate manually as this may be a trap. Alert your security company.

6. *Keep Those Eyes Peeled*

When approaching your driveway, be on the lookout for suspicious vehicles/persons. This is very important as the majority of hijackers approach their victims in home driveways.

7. *Know Where Your Nearest Police Station Is*

Only pull over when it’s safe. Some syndicates use bogus police or traffic officers. In the event of being approached by an unmarked SAPS vehicle, you should switch on your hazards, put your hand out of the window and indicate that they should follow you. Bogus police are driving unmarked white sedan vehicles with blue lights.

8. *Don’t Stop If You Don’t Feel Safe.*

If your vehicle is bumped from behind and you do not feel comfortable with the individual involved in the situation, drive to your nearest police station and instruct the person to follow you there.

9. *Reverse and Drive Away*

If you encounter obstacles in the road such as rocks or tyres, do not get out of your vehicle to remove them.

10. *The Escape Gap*

When stopping behind another vehicle, leave half a vehicle length in front of your vehicle to make an emergency escape if necessary.

BEGGING AT INTERSECTIONS

Business Fighting Crime hereby makes an appeal to you to refrain from giving money to those individuals begging at the various intersections.

This will result in many realizing that it is not feasible for them to live on the streets.

Please help to be part of the solution to the problem as opposed to adding to the problem.

We encourage those who want to give towards the homeless, to rather support the various organizations supporting the homeless.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
Nuvo Rubber

If you would like to make a donation the banking details for BFC are:
Bank: FNB Boom Street
Branch Code: 221325
Account No: 62077527144

Safe City

Safe City Msunduzi NPC is an entity of the Msunduzi Municipality and its primary function is to monitor cctv cameras located in some of the streets in Pietermaritzburg and at eight Primary Electrical Substations.

Safe City is governed by a board of six directors under the guidance of Ms. Zinhle Sokhela who is a prominent businesswoman in Pietermaritzburg.  Operational and Capital funding is provided by the Msunduzi Municipality and our finances is audited every year by the Auditor General.

Safe City operates 24/7 in close partnership with Municipal Traffic and Security, the South African Police Service, National Prosecution Authority and Business Fighting Crime.

For more information click here.