Altogether 110 police officials have been deployed to a number of crime-infested hotspots in the Lowveld region of Mpumalanga.
The Special Task Team will lead an operation in the Pienaar, KaBokweni, Hazyview and Marite areas, which have all been identified as crime hotspots.
This was the acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, and the MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Jackie Macie’s response to the ever-escalating crime rate in these areas.
The Special Task Team started their work on Thursday July 18 with an official parade and a roadblock in Pienaar.
“No one here must die at the hands of criminals when you have also been provided with the tools of trade. Use the tools the State has provided to you. Those are not toys, they are for you to protect yourselves and society at large,” said Macie.
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He said the special unit will bring much-needed stability to these areas. “We welcome the deployment of the team. This gives our communities hope. We applaud the decisive leadership of the SAPS in the province. We should confront criminality from all fronts. Side by side with our communities, we will emerge victorious against crime,” added Macie.
He further stated that the police should continue to work harder and bring more perpetrators to book.
Mkhwanazi also called on the members of the special unit to leave no stone unturned, but also cautioned the police officials not to abuse community members.
“The community must not feel threatened and be afraid of you, but they must respect you. You must not cross the line and be abusive towards them, but work nicely with them so they can give you information and leads,” said Mkhwanazi.
He added that the communities want to see results. He urged deployed members to visit and patrol graveyards, especially at night, in the light of recent discoveries of the remains of murder victims buried in other people’s graves.
“Let’s work hard to make a difference in the community. We want detectives to help with investigations, and they should make sure that statements are properly written to close any loopholes,” he said.
Mkhwanazi went on to state that the police must be tough on criminals, because communities want to see results and want to feel safe on the roads, at places of entertainment and in their homes.
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He also urged community members to work with the police. “Turn around the situation and make Pienaar a healthy environment for residents. The battalion must execute the operation to the maximum,” he said as he addressed the police unit. The Pienaar area has been marred by a number of women and children’s abductions and killings, while the KaBokweni and Marite areas are plagued by hijackings and killings.”
Both Macie and Mkhwanazi had met with the premier, Mandla Ndlovu, and crimefighting strategies were laid on the table to curb the scourge, with this intervention being one.
