How crime works

[Angelo]

HENRIËTTE GELDENHUYS



‘They live extravagant lives, wear designer label clothes and drink expensive whiskey and 20-year-old brandy’
Foreign syndicates run most organised crime

Foreign criminal syndicates have entrenched themselves in Gauteng. Operating in much the same way that the Italian immigrant Mafia conducted itself in the US in the early 1900s, the foreign syndicates are entrepreneurial and innovative, settling in immigrant communities and spreading their sphere of influence in the underworld.

From Nigerian drug traders and Mozambican and Zimbabwean armed robbers, to Portuguese and Lebanese truck- hijacking syndicates, most of Gauteng’s organised crime involves foreign immigrants.

This is according to a study, made available exclusively to Metro, conducted by a team of researchers from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).

The researchers, led by Jenni Irish-Qhobosheane, interviewed numerous police officers and criminals.

Irish-Qhobosheane is quick to point out that not all immigrants are involved in crime and that xenophobia and hostility towards foreigners means law-abiding immigrants are unlikely to help curb crime.

The SAIIA research found that most syndicate leaders operate above the law and are seldom caught. Only lower- level members are arrested.

The findings, to be published in a book called The Social Economy of Organised Crime, state that Nigerians control 80% of the cocaine trade and that they have established a “Little Lagos” in Hillbrow and Berea — in much the same way as the Mafia operated out of “Little Italy” in New York.

Nigerian drug lords dominate the illegal drug trade, selling to Israeli and Greek networks which provide drugs to users in the city’s northern suburbs. In the southern suburbs, they supply drugs to local Afrikaner criminal networks.

Irish-Qhobosheane says Nigerians pay what they call “street tax” — big money to bribe police officers — once offering a policeman in Berea R150000 to turn a blind eye to a kilogram of cocaine with a street value of R300000.

She says they use aliases and pay up to R5000 for a fake South African ID. They don’t take drugs and don’t testify against each other. They often take over dilapidated apartment blocks, introducing their own ruling committees.

They find drug couriers at homeless shelters.

The researchers found that the drug lords employ South Africans, Mozambicans and Zimbabweans to kill double- crossers. While car-hijacking syndicates are largely run by South Africans — with 36 syndicates operating out of Soweto alone — truck hijacking is often a foreign enterprise.

Portuguese, Lebanese and Chinese networks, each consisting of up to 100 members, hijack trucks for their goods.

According to Irish-Qhobosheane, in about 70% of those hijackings, the truck driver is involved, earning between R10000 and R50000 for each hijacking.

The hijackers store the stolen goods in warehouses and repackage them before selling them on to larger traders and big retailers.

Armed robberies, including bank and cash-in-transit heists, are mainly committed by ex-combatants from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, according to the study.

Most armed robberies take place in Gauteng, where at least 60% of the country’s cash circulates.

Many heist operators live extravagant lives, claiming to be recovering what was stolen from them during colonialism. “We’re bringing home the cows that were stolen from us,” they say.

They live extravagant lives, wear designer label clothes and drink expensive whiskey and 20-year-old brandy.

Crime statistics released in September show that Gauteng accounts for 76% of the country’s bank robberies, 53% of car hijackings and 49% of truck hijackings.

In addition, 41% of armed robberies and 36% of cash heists occur in Gauteng.

http://www.suntimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Article.aspx?id=321177

 

[Paul_S]

Now where are all those trolls that keep saying crime is caused by poverty?

 

[kilo39]

Amazing how much we know and how little we do.

researchers found that the drug lords employ South Africans, Mozambicans and Zimbabweans to kill double- crossers. While car-hijacking syndicates are largely run by South Africans — with 36 syndicates operating out of Soweto alone —

According to Irish-Qhobosheane, in about 70% of those hijackings, the truck driver is involved, earning between R10000 and R50000 for each hijacking.

Basic dishonesty is a big problem (or perhaps none when you have no values.)

Many heist operators live extravagant lives, claiming to be recovering what was stolen from them during colonialism. “We’re bringing home the cows that were stolen from us,” they say.

Ah, that sacred cow: excuses all wrong while bringing misery to thousands of their own people.

How to build a great image: lie, steal, cheat, rape, murder. (Me thinks these are not nice people.)

 

[nthdimension]

It's caused by capitalism

But seriously economic status does play a role.

Regarding the Nigerians and cocaine, they aren't organised crime in the sense we traditionally think. There generally isn't a coherent group with a leader. It is more loosely affiliated individuals. And if you remove one someone else moves in to take their place. Just like the robust cocaine distribution networks that have formed to replace the organised gangs with a leader that used to control the cocaine trade in South America. Today there is no leader to remove and distribution is much more resistant to damage.

 

[nivek]

The researchers found that the drug lords employ South Africans, Mozambicans and Zimbabweans to kill double- crossers. While car-hijacking syndicates are largely run by South Africans — with 36 syndicates operating out of Soweto alone — truck hijacking is often a foreign enterprise.

Amazing, they are so sure its *36* syndicates, and not 'about 36' or, 'estimate of 36'.. its '36', yet they cant arrest them..

 

[w1z4rd]

Angelo, just ask Selebi! He will give you any pointers you need

PS Angelo, your signature reminds me of one of those current day 22 year old Zim "freedom fighters". So my guess is you are going to do exactly what they are doing (and most of the rest of africa). IE, Exploit the system, blame the whites, mess up the future, blame the whites, etc. Its amazing that the Japs got NUKED by the Americans, and got their society up and running in a generation or two to become one of the most powerful economic forces in the world. You see Angelo, they didnt just sit around... blaming people. They actually wanted a working society. You should holiday more in Zimbabwe.

 

[Vrotappel]

Angelo, just ask Selebi! He will give you any pointers you need

PS Angelo, your signature reminds me of one of those current day 22 year old Zim "freedom fighters". So my guess is you are going to do exactly what they are doing (and most of the rest of africa). IE, Exploit the system, blame the whites, mess up the future, blame the whites, etc. Its amazing that the Japs got NUKED by the Americans, and got their society up and running in a generation or two to become one of the most powerful economic forces in the world. You see Angelo, they didnt just sit around... blaming people. They actually wanted a working society. You should holiday more in Zimbabwe.

The same can be said of Germany after the second world war. They were completely decimated and look where they are today.

 

[Darth Garth]

The same can be said of Germany after the second world war. They were completely decimated and look where they are today.

You and wizard don't know your world history too well it seems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_plan

Let me quote this gem.

During that period some $13 billion of economic and technical assistance—equivalent to around $130 billion in 2006—was given to help the recovery of the European countries that had joined in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

All Germanic hard work you say ... oh really ... a few billion must have helped them as well .

But nobody in the west gave us jack since the fall of Apartheid but in fact we managed to REPAY all the debt incurred by the previous regime.

 

[RichardP]

You and wizard don't know your world history too well it seems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_plan

Let me quote this gem.



All Germanic hard work you say ... oh really ... a few billion must have helped them as well .

But nobody in the west gave us jack since the fall of Apartheid but in fact we managed to REPAY all the debt incurred by the previous regime.

RichardP hands tibby.dude a soap box ... more people can hear you then..

 

[Paul_S]

All Germanic hard work you say ... oh really ... a few billion must have helped them as well .

As if Africa hasn't received aid as well?
It doesn't work for Africa it seems because all that happens is the corrupt leaders get their grubby paws on it.

Politicians and government officials across Africa, engage in corruption and corrupt practices, and a World Bank Report, showed in the 2004-2005 fiscal year alone, $148 billion was embezzled by Africa politicians and bureaucrats a significant amount of it being aid and loans earmarked for development activities to benefit Africa's poor.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200611080994.html

The Oxford International Group revealed that the external stock of capital held by Africans in overseas accounts is between $700billion and $800 billion, and nearly 40% of Africa's aggregate wealth has fled to foreign bank accounts in Europe, United States and now even Japan.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200611100927.html

Research shows that over the period that foreign aid was being pumped into Africa, the per capita GDP declined by an averaged of 0.59 percent annually between 1975-2000
http://allafrica.com/stories/200611100927.html

Giving lazy people money only makes them more lazy.
Giving corrupt people money only makes them more corrupt.

 

[Xarog]

There's a big difference between the kind of aid that Africa got compared to the kind of aid germany got. Germany wasn't required to make all sorts of economic "reformations" in exchange for the money. Germany wasn't lied to regarding the profits that these "reformations" would generate.

The west had much to gain in making Germany as prosperous as possible, as they needed (or at least they thought they needed) strong buffer states between them and the communist sattelite states.

On the other hand, Africa was an excellent target for economic imperialism. Free trade agreements along with bogus aid schemes made for a nice army of cheap and uneducated workers with which to prop up the wealth of the first world.

Sure, there have been corrupt Africans, but it doesn't matter. Even if every last African politician was honest and hardworking, Africa would still be in the mess it is in today. Corrupt Africans exacerbated(sp) the problem, but they were never the cause.

 

[Syndyre]

On the other hand, Africa was an excellent target for economic imperialism. Free trade agreements along with bogus aid schemes made for a nice army of cheap and uneducated workers with which to prop up the wealth of the first world.

Funny how most of the world's manufacturing with cheap labour happens in Asia then.

 

[kilo39]

There's a big difference between the kind of aid that Africa got compared to the kind of aid germany got. Germany wasn't required to make all sorts of economic "reformations" in exchange for the money. Germany wasn't lied to regarding the profits that these "reformations" would generate.

The west had much to gain in making Germany as prosperous as possible, as they needed (or at least they thought they needed) strong buffer states between them and the communist sattelite states.

On the other hand, Africa was an excellent target for economic imperialism. Free trade agreements along with bogus aid schemes made for a nice army of cheap and uneducated workers with which to prop up the wealth of the first world.

Sure, there have been corrupt Africans, but it doesn't matter. Even if every last African politician was honest and hardworking, Africa would still be in the mess it is in today. Corrupt Africans exacerbated(sp) the problem, but they were never the cause.

I don't know enough to comment in depth but this post seems dubious. Free trade agreements? I thought that was the whole argument with the IMF? If we're arguing about them now they couldn't have existed then. Western preferential trade yes, free trade no. A nice army of cheap and uneducated workers? Where? Africa is struggling because of limited exports but we're propping up the wealth of the first world? Where? Minerals maybe? (Botswana seems very happy.)

Bogus aid schemes? (shakes head.)

The world changed. Africa didn't.

 

[Paul_S]

Sure, there have been corrupt Africans, but it doesn't matter. Even if every last African politician was honest and hardworking, Africa would still be in the mess it is in today. Corrupt Africans exacerbated(sp) the problem, but they were never the cause.

If African's weren't half as corrupt as they are we would never need aid in the first place.

 

[w1z4rd]

Monthly lie detector tests for politicians!

 

[nthdimension]

a World Bank Report

Would this be the same World Bank that imposed devastating economic policies on African, South American and some Asian countries. Economic policies that failed over and over, not because of corruption, but because they are basically bull****. These same World Bank morons then loaned these countries even more money to cover the damage they caused, while still insisting on imposing the same failed economic policies, leaving every country with crippling debt.

Many countries were deliberately destabilised for profit, particularly by oil and diamond interests. It was in their interests to keep corrupt leaders in place. It's about maintaining access to cheap raw materials.

Look at the fuss the US made when corrupt US puppets were replaced by South American leaders who actually cared about the development of their countries.

There is corruption, but the situation is nowhere near that simple. And the mess is not going to be easy to clean up.

 

[Xarog]

Funny how most of the world's manufacturing with cheap labour happens in Asia then.

Funny how I didn't mention manufacturing at all.

I don't know enough to comment in depth but this post seems dubious. Free trade agreements? I thought that was the whole argument with the IMF? If we're arguing about them now they couldn't have existed then. Western preferential trade yes, free trade no. A nice army of cheap and uneducated workers? Where? Africa is struggling because of limited exports but we're propping up the wealth of the first world? Where? Minerals maybe? (Botswana seems very happy.)

Ok, it's a bit difficult to figure out what you're getting at, so I apologise if I make a mistake here. It seems you're confusing the World Trade Organisation with the International Money Fund. Africa and Latin America are usually trying to convince the first world to abandon their use of subsidies, because they can't afford to provide those same subsidies to their farmers and that means African goods cannot compete with first world goods on the open market.

On the other hand the IMF is responsible for loaning out money to the third world on condition that they 'liberalise' their markets. This usually means that the government has to give up many of its controls over how goods get traded or how money is moved in or out of the country. In a couple of ironic cases of corrupt politicians, they managed to steal money from the country's they were in control of only after the IMF's recommendations were implemented.

These two issues do kinda go hand in hand. Without the ability to place tariffs on imported goods, there is no way for a country to protect itself from the cheaper goods that come from subsidised sources. The result is often that an entire industry dissappears because it simply cannot compete with the cheaper imported goods. When this happens over more than one industry, it sends unemployment soaring which creates a domino effect and suddenly the country in question is facing an economic/poverty crisis which it has no hope of combatting.

I remember reading (a long time ago), one example where there was a thriving local clothing market until the state controls were relaxed. Overnight multinational corporations who wanted a slice of the clothing pie swooped in and started selling their clothes at prices which the locals couldn't compete with. The whole industry shut down, jobs vanished as a result, and after a short while the clothing market had shrunk to less than 10% of what it originally was. People then had to resort to buying BOSS tshirts or relying on clothing donations from overseas.

As for propping up the wealth of the west, haven't you heard the stories about the coffee plantations where people get less than $1 a day for their work? The bottom line is that your $2 cup of coffee in your average Starbucks would cost subsancially more if the workers were in the first world receiving minimum wage for their efforts. Sure, maybe the price goes as high as $4 instead of $2, but since it covers a whole lot more than just coffee, the thirld world does alot to help with first world living standards.

Bogus aid schemes? (shakes head.)

Do a bit of research on the fine print. The usually the money had to be spent a certain way, etc. etc. etc. There's a good reason why the African leaders are objecting to the fact that 'aid' packages have so many strings attached. (I guess this kinda belongs in the thread you created, but it was on topic here too, and I don't want to repeat myself needlessly.)

If African's weren't half as corrupt as they are we would never need aid in the first place.

Well, I've laid out my reasons for saying what I've said - how about you do the same?

 

[DragonLogos]

Monthly lie detector tests for politicians!

The risk of fire is far to great

 

[Paul_S]

Sure there are nasty clauses with regards to loaning money but then the governments should just say no instead of accepting the agreement and money.
Last time I checked banks had similar things in place - if I don't like their terms and conditions then I just say no and walk away.

My point is :
If people really want to get somewhere in life they can and without any external help.
They'll have to work their arses off to get there but it is possible and I've seen it happen.
The problem here is that everyone is blaming what others have done to them instead of getting on their feet and getting on top of circumstances with some decent hard work and creativity.
It's much easier to point fingers, blame others and sit back and expect handouts.

Sure bad things have happened but I think attitude problems are the real hindrance to progress because no matter how much money or sympathy you add to the mess it'll always get wasted instead of used as a spring board.

 

[antowan]

Personally I don't think the country can be saved from criminal intent without a state of emergency. If that is however called out, the gap for a dictatorship is so wide open that I doubt it won't be taken... We will also lose the 2010 cup if a state of emergency is called, so we are ****ed for at least another 4 years.