Chris Smith

Chris Smith (1948 – 2013)

Brief overview:

Chris (65), was shot dead in Giles Street, Robertsham, after withdrawing money from a bank at the Southdale Shopping Centre, in November 2013.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Farm/Smallholding
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)
  • "A gang who follow people after they make large withdrawals from banks around Gauteng and rob them originate from Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, and Pretoria, and call themselves “The Planes”. Founder of crime-fighting organisation eBlockwatch Andre Snyman said he had been alerted to the fact that there is one specific gang operating in Gauteng. He said three people had been killed in recent weeks after they withdrew large amounts of money from a bank. He said people who lived or worked near banks might be able to spot them. “They targeted the East Rand, then moved to Pretoria, and yesterday (Friday) they killed a man who drew money from Woodmead,” Snyman said. The investigator said these ”spotter robberies”, as they call them, were all organised by one core gang of 34 members who come from Tembisa and Pretoria. “They recruit members from other areas, mainly in the East Rand as well as Alexandra. I would say right now there are over 200 people involved in these crimes.”
  • "In February 2014, Derek Woods (53) was shot outside De La Salle Holy Cross College Primary School by three men after he had withdrawn a large amount of money. Police arrested six suspects in Katlehong and Klippoortjie. In February, a man was arrested in Alexandra after he attacked two women who had withdrawn R6000 from a bank."

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
• Weapons
• Items Stolen
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
• Arrests
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction

Additional Biographical Information:

Links to Media articles:

• https://archive.is/sZqQm