Hotline exposes truck hijack hotspots

The growing scourge of truck hijacking has galvanised the Road Freight Association (RFA) into action with the launch of a hotline where these crimes can be reported. Considered a multibillion-rand a year business in southern Africa, truck hijackings are a major concern for any operator. And while the financial repercussions are huge, very little information is available to help eradicate the ongoing incidents. According to Gavin Kelly, spokesman for the RFA, the hotline has proved to be hugely successful so far. Even though it is only in its infancy, Kelly says it will create a centralised point from which information around hijackings can be gathered. “Not only can we use the information as an organisation to empower our members as to where the incidents are happening, what the trends are and how we can address them, but we can speak to police on a national level about possible long-term solutions.” Kelly says the hotline, which can be reached on (011) 9660018, will take several months to get a real grip on what is happening – although already they are able to see where hotspots are. “And that allows us to send out alerts to our members who can then take the necessary action either to avoid the area or to have added security in place – and hopefully we can start to find real solutions.” For Kelly it is imperative that one starts quantifying the problem of hijackings. “At the same time we are also now able to see what is being hijacked, which commodities are being targeted and where that is happening. Through the hotline we are gathering very valuable information – and thanks to that either hijacking will cease to be an issue or we can really ascertain how big the problem is and then have the facts to sit down with police at top level to get it sorted out.” He said it would also allow them to quantify the cost of hijacking to the industry and the economy at large.