The urban jungle of Pretoria, colloquially known as Hatfield, is infamous, from Burnett Street to Lynnwood. Hatfield is known for its night lights, the lovely blue skies in the summer, and dull, gloomy winter mornings. The urban student setting offers many fun activities and experiences to those who identify the concrete jungle as a home away from home. However, on 15 March, PDBY was alerted to a rise in petty criminal activity that has raised the attention of the South African Police Service (SAPS). PDBY conducted an interview with Sergeant MD Baloi from the SAPS station in Brooklyn to provide clarity regarding the matter.
According to Sergeant Baloi, a number of students from UP and surrounding tertiary institutions have been losing their valuables at the hands of opportunists that portray themselves as prophets. These opportunistic criminals have taken and continue to take advantage of the fact that Hatfield is a metropolitan area. In such a large area with a diverse demographic, it is easy for these seasoned criminals to find individuals to prey on.
These so called false prophets specifically focus on isolated, unsuspecting students who trust others easily. The criminals assume the role of a false prophet or a person that has a divine mission to save the youth of Hatfield. Sergeant Baloi stated that these individuals prey on kindness. They evoke sympathy from their victims and draw the individuals in by speaking about personal matters. By “opening up”, the false prophets encourage victims to let their guards down.
Furthermore, when asked to elaborate on the complexity of the matter at hand, Sergeant Baloi observed that the virtual, interactive platforms of today have left many vulnerable by blurring the lines between reality and the virtual world. E-hailing platforms like Uber have further blurred these lines for students in and around the Hatfield area, making it difficult to distinguish between a stranger in need of assistance and potential danger.
The false prophets in Hatfield are known to use triggering words and manipulative language to almost hypnotise victims and make them more susceptible to influence. The perpetrators of these crimes will then ask for a token of gratitude in return for their services, such as a bottle of water. While the victim goes to buy this token, they leave their valuable possessions such as phones, laptops, wallets and/or jewellery with the prophet. When the victims return, they find that they have been robbed. In other cases, false prophets offer a prayer to their victims and steal valuables while the victims’ eyes are closed.
Due to the complex nature of these crimes, it is difficult to apprehend these criminals. The crimes occur in isolated areas, and the victim has to present their case to the authorities, which carries a sense of embarrassment for the victim. In turn, this nudges them to internalise their loss, opting to stay anonymous and silent.
In closing, Sergeant Baloi said, “I humbly request [that] students have forums in communes, [as well as] WhatsApp groups [to] notify your housemates [of] where you are going [and] when you are coming back. […] It’s not [so that] they [can] spy on you or anything. It’s just to [let] them know [of] your whereabouts so [that] they can be able to assist, should anything happen to you.”
