National Closure of M2 a blessing in disguise for crime-ridden CBD Banks, conglomerates still operating in the CBD and city officials gang up to fight crime and stop traffic gridlocks BL PREMIUM

Repair work on one of Johannesburg’s major highways has had an unexpected impact on SA’s major banks. Lenders are stepping up security after the closure of parts of the M2 freeway diverted traffic through the CBD — already flooded with pedestrians, buses, street vendors and minibus taxis. In a city that’s no stranger to crime, the snarl-ups made bank workers sitting ducks as thieves struck one car after the next, stealing whatever they can at gunpoint. To combat the thugs taking advantage of the gridlock, businesses are meeting weekly with city officials and metropolitan police who direct traffic and monitor crime hot-spots. Undercover cops are also keeping watch, while the likes of Absa and FirstRand ’s FNB provide shuttle services for staff, let employees work from home, come in during off-peak times, or use satellite offices. “Our ops centre reports regularly on the situation just to check it’s business as usual,” Absa’s acting CEO René van Wyk said. When the lender put more secu...