MEMBER'S STATEMENT
Mr Velaphi Ndlovu MP
National Assembly

7 May 2008

Madame Speaker,

It was reported that the ATM bombing which occurred in Dobsonville during the early hours of this morning was the tenth such incident to have taken place in South Africa over the past week. It has also been reported that more that 140 ATM bombings have occurred between January and March this year alone.

It is clear that ATMs are seen as easy targets by criminals and that the relevant law enforcement authorities are at a loss over how to stop criminals from committing this crime.

Innovative strategies and plans need to be implemented as a matter of urgency if the authorities hope to make any inroads and put a stop to this type of crime before it gets any worse than it already is. It is clear that the current strategies that are in place to deal with ATM bombings are not having the desired effect and deterring criminals. We therefore urge the Minister and other relevant authorities and role players to use their collective resources to review the current strategies that they have in place with regard to the ATM bombings and to make adjustments or implement new strategies if need be. These criminals must be stopped from using ATMs as their personal source of free money and, in so doing, endangering the lives of innocent citizens.

I thank you.