The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has committed to collaborating with all law enforcement agencies to keep residents and visitors safe during the festive season.
The municipality and South African Police Service (SAPS) this week unveiled the 2024 Safer Festive Season Programme with a zero-tolerance approach towards crime at an event held in Feather Market Hall.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe, led the operation together with the SAPS Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Major-General Vuyisile Ncata and Mayoral Committee Members.
Speaking at the launch, Lobishe said the cooperation agreement includes all spheres of government and civil society in creating a safe and secure environment; development of programmes, plans, interventions and infrastructure that will seek to reduce the levels of crime; and alignment of strategies and coordination of implementation.
"Certainly, we would like to see a clean and safe city. That is why I applaud the EDTA's [Economic Development Tourism and Agriculture] initiative of internal collaboration with public health as well as with the SAPS, businesses, and the tourism industry to ensure that these conditions for a successful season are addressed in preparation for the 2024/25 summer season.
“We wish to welcome back home those who work in other towns and the thousands of tourists who will be enjoying our ‘Friendly City’ and assure them that we are ready to delivery yet another memorable festive season," Lobishe said.
The Mayor added that the Departments of Home Affairs and Correctional Services have been integrated into the festive season operation.
The launch was held in conjunction with a successful road safety roadblock on the N2 Neptune Bridge.
A total of 454 vehicles were stopped while 225 were searched. Traffic fines for unlicenced and unregistered vehicles were issued, including two arrests, one for unlicenced firearm and one for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Ncata said criminals were operating in an organised fashion, and due to this, the law enforcement agencies have jacked up their operations.
He said he was happy with the police readiness, saying whether it be the traffic services, police, or metro police, “we are going to intensify our operations”.
The Major-General warned that the police will not tolerate lawlessness in the city.
“We want to hit the [ground] running, we want to be in the hot spot areas and roadblocks and address our crime generators especially in our taverns [and] check their compliance as well. Criminals are brazen, while we have our own plans, they also have their own plans."
Ncata highlighted that since the signing of the cooperation agreement, the district has seen a reduction in crime statistics, especially in house robberies, car and truck jackings, and street robberies where firearms are used. – SAnews.gov.za
