Tapa targets hijacking hot spots

THE RECENTLY established local chapter of the Transported Asset Protection Association (Tapa) will concentrate on issues raised during the initial visits of the Tapa board to SA, when they met with government officials and introduced minister of transport, Jeff Radebe, to the global Tapa initiatives. Two focus areas, said vice chairman John Nelson, include the high number of truck hijackings around the country and major losses in and around OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. “Through contact with the SA Police Service (SAPS), the SA Revenue Service (Sars) and the department of transport, we will monitor the crime levels affecting the freight and express industry in SA – plotting trends that can be used by Tapa members locally to avoid ‘hot spots’ and vulnerable routes.” There’s an exchange of ideas in the strategy – with Tapa’s expertise allowing it to offer assistance to the authorities in an effort to reduce the crime levels that affect its business. “The aim of the organisation globally is to reduce crime in the supply chain,” Nelson added, “and, in the established Tapa-covered areas such as Europe, there has been a significant reduction in crime within the technology specific areas. “So much so that nontechnology companies which have historically suffered losses in their supply chains – like Gucci, Nike, British American Tobacco and Philip Morris – have joined Tapa.” For further information on membership contact marius@schjia.com