Pretoria - Duduza police have nabbed eight suspects during an anti-crime awareness campaign aimed at mobilising the community against crime over the festive season period.
Seven were arrested for the possession of dagga and one for possessing nyaope.
The Duduza Anti-Crime Awareness campaign, which was carried out in the form of a motorcade and blitz, was an initiative of Government Communications (GCIS), Duduza Ward Councillors and Duduza SAPS.
"Through this campaign, we want to send a clear message to criminals and would-be criminals that over this period, SAPS is going all out to ensure that all people are and feel safe in this community," said Captain Thembisile Nxumalo.
According to Captain Nxumalo, as part of the festive season safety campaign, various SAPS crime fighting units will be in Duduza to ensure that people are and feel safe.
At this time of year, there is an increase in incidents of crime reported at Duduza police station.
Speaking after the campaign, Councillor for Ward 98, Tiny Mabena, urged involved stakeholders to hold such campaigns on a regular basis to collectively intensify the fight against crime.
"We must on a quarterly basis implement campaigns such as this, where all stakeholder come together to discourage and mobilise the community against crime and where possible make arrests as we did today [Wednesday]. This will send a strong message to criminals and would-be criminals that law enforcement agencies and communities are serious about fighting crime," said Mabena.
Duduza Customer Care Centre Manager, Ndoli Mosiane, agreed that more should be done in the fight against crime.
"Given today's [Wednesday's] successful arrest of eight suspects, it is clear that together we can win this fight. Hence I agree that next year we should have the campaign quarterly and invite more stakeholders to be a part of it - especially the non-government and faith based organisations," said Mosiane.
The campaign, which involved random stop and searches, included stakeholders such as ward councillors, Duduza SAPS, SAPS Flying Squad, Dog Unit and Crime Combating Unit, Intelligence Unit, Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department, Community Development Workers, SAPS Crime Prevention Youth Desk and Duduza Community Policing Forum (CPF).
Leaflets on domestic violence and coping with drugs were also distributed during the campaign.
