Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela, has outlined the province’s plans to keep communities safe this festive season.
Addressing the launch of the Safer Festive Season campaign on Saturday in Randfontein, Mawela said the Gauteng Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (ProvJOINTS) has resolved to heighten the crime efforts over and above the daily and weekly activities.
“Each government department will aggressively enforce its legislative mandate. We will increase the frequency of our crime prevention and crime combating operations by increasing police visibility through the blue light patrols and static deployment of rapid response vehicles at identified strategic routes,” Mawela said.
The Safer Festive Season campaign will be implemented under the theme: "Combating crime through decisive police action and robust community involvement".
This festive season police will focus on prevention of gender-based violence and femicide, as well as protection of members of the vulnerable groups, combating aggravating robberies, enforcing legislation in relation of firearms, liquor and second hand goods.
It will also include enforcing safety at recreational events, enforcing bi-laws as well as dealing with drunken driving, speeding and removing unroadworthy on the roads.
Law enforcement is expected to conduct roadblocks, which will include deploying more intelligence at hotspot areas.
Intelligence collection capabilities will be enhanced by working with community patrollers and community police forums.
Police Minister General Bheki Cele gave his marching orders to police officers who have been tasked with protecting communities.
“Criminals have declared war against the people of South Africa and you are the buffer between those people and the criminals. It is your job to protect them. I am making a call that you fight against criminals who have declared war against South Africans and the government,” the Minister said.
Cele encouraged the men and women in blue to ensure the safety of women, children and the elderly, emphasizing that their cases should be attend to when they have been reported.
He said government is set to improve police visibility by deploying about 10 000 newly trained officers in December. – SAnews.gov.za
