Wonder Hlongwa
A gang of more than 40 women calling themselves the A-Team are terrorising shopkeepers in Durban and surrounding suburbs, helping themselves to goods worth thousands of rands.
More than 10 gang members have been arrested after meetings between the police, politicians and traders.
Members of the A-Team enter shops posing as customers in groups of between 10 and 15. While some keep shop assistants distracted, the rest help themselves to whatever they can lay their hands on.
They put some of the goods in their underpants or pass them to each other until they reach the door. Its difficult to catch them because after the women pass the items they ask you to search them. While youre doing that, the others are taking more goods, said Ismael Mansoor, who has been robbed by them several times.
He said the A-Team had an office at Damjee Centre in Victoria Street where they planned their daily raids. But after realising that the police had been tipped off about their whereabouts, the group moved to an unknown venue.
The police searched the office and found new clothing there. One of the women who was arrested gave the police the name of the shop where it had been stolen, but the owner declined to lay a charge.
The A-Team is armed and dangerous. Shopkeepers are afraid to make statements to the police because they have been threatened with death by gang members.
Last week a shopkeeper in Prince Alfred Street was stabbed after he tried to confiscate what they stole. He was stabbed in his chin but the knife went through his tongue, tearing it apart, said Vina Patel, who witnessed the incident.
On Monday, jewellery store Lodhia and Sons in Grey Street was robbed by a gang of women believed to belong to the A-Team. They took jewellery and R500 and killed the owner Yashwant Lodhia before fleeing the scene.
The gang moves from one street to another, and when they notice a strong police presence, they quickly vacate the area. Superintendent Dees Govender, who heads a special unit dealing with the A-Team, said they normally start off in Grey Street, then head to Leopold Street, before hitting Brooks Street.
Govender said police have identified all the members of the gang but arrests were not possible without statements from their victims.
The gang is driving business out of the predominantly Indian part of the city. While some traders blame the police for treating the gang with kid gloves, politicians blame local authorities for neglecting the area.
ANC MP Pravin Gordhan said local authorities were neglecting Grey and Warwick streets, and police should patrol the area.