Tukes, the student who was shot dead over his mobile phone at the weekend, was just one of thousands of victims of a routine robbery in South Africa.
The University of Pretoria confirmed the death, which happened in the early hours of Saturday morning in Hatfield, near Tuxdorp Residence.
According to police crime statistics for the first quarter of the financial year, common robberies reported in the first half of 2022 fell by 1% to 10,565 cases reported this year, compared to 10,701 reported in the same period last year.
Gauteng Police spokesperson Captain Mawela Masondo confirmed that the two suspects, aged 38 and 33, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday charged with murder, armed robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition in connection with the student’s murder.
Security expert Dr Johan Burger said the biggest problem, as with many other crimes, was the market for the products.
“A mobile phone is relatively small and can be easily hidden by a criminal after a robbery. Then it will be possible to sell it to a willing buyer at a price significantly lower than its value. Both sides scored,” he said.
Burger said that in addition to criminal syndicates that focus on these types of products, high unemployment and rising poverty have contributed greatly to the problem.
“Victims usually act instinctively to protect their property. A mobile phone is their connection to their family and circle of friends. “For a criminal, this is a source of income for which he does not want to go to prison. Therefore, he will respond with violence to any resistance to his attack or attempted arrest. His life is worth much more to him than the life of his victim,” he said.
Burger said that people should accept this reality and preferably not use mobile phones in public places where they can be seen.
“If you must use it, move to a place where you are less exposed to such a threat. If you encounter a criminal during a robbery, the best advice is to always do what he asks.
Generally, the criminal is satisfied when he has what he is looking for and will leave you alone,” he said.
Burger said the inconvenience and loss of cell phones, wallets and money is not worth your life.
University of Limpopo criminologist Professor Jaco Barkhuizen said the student’s killing was shocking but not surprising.
“All smartphones are expensive. In our digital age, we keep all our information on our phones, photos, emails, bank accounts, IDs and passports. It is the same as a handbag; it’s personal and a lot of people work on their phones.
It has become an extension of itself, especially the smartphone… “As we have seen in recent crime statistics, crimes against the person are shooting through the roof.
There is nothing to keep people safe on social media. Due to the lack of boots on the ground, people have a high tendency to become victims of crime.
“It was terrible that a person with such potential was killed for something as small as a mobile phone.”
READ ALSO: Two arrested for murder of University of Pretoria student
– marizkac@citizen.co.za
