New transport unit to launch

The acting head of Public Safety at the City of Johannesburg, David Tembe, has revealed the launch of a new Transport Unit this month.

Tembe said the unit would be comprised of 120 officers and will focus specifically on transport and safety on roads. “We will screen and select a team of special officers fit for the role of the unit. Reckless drivers would face arrest and unroadworthy vehicles will be impounded. The unit will be expected to give a weekly performance report to establish whether it is effective in reducing road fatalities.”

Tembe revealed this during the announcement of the Metro Police Performance Report for May at the Municipal Council chamber on 28 June. The report indicated a high number of driving under the influence of alcohol cases with 741 arrests made. Although the number had decreased from 804 in April, Tembe said the high number remained a concern. He added that he expected the new unit, among other things, to effectively deal with drunk driving.

The inner City scored the highest with 139 drunk-and-driving arrests, followed by Soweto with 83, Randburg with 79, Roodepoort with 65, Alex and Sandton with 52 and Midrand with 38 arrests.

The Metro police also recorded a number of 37 arrests for possession of hijacked or stolen vehicles, 20 being made by the K9 Unit. Fourteen arrests were made for fraud, 23 for possession or dealing in drugs, 12 for common robbery and 8 for business robbery. Tembe in conjunction with Mayor Herman Mashaba and MMC for Public Safety Micheal Sun honoured offers of the Integrated Intelligence Operations Centre Reaction Unit for the successful arrests since inception in May. Tembe boasted that the unit recorded 88 arrests for different crimes in the inner city since it was established. From 14 until 31 May, it recorded a number of 40 arrests, 8 for fraud, 7 for possession or dealing in drugs, 6 for common robbery, 6 for possession of hijacked or stolen vehicles, 3 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 1 for possession of dangerous weapon and 1 for possession of unlicensed firearm.

Three of the 8 arrested fraud suspects were nabbed for allegedly making fraudulent traffic registers, licence discs and vehicle registration papers on the corner of Bree and Harrison streets in Johannesburg. “The unit has been successful in fulfilling its mandate with a response time of less than five minutes,” said Tembe.

Mashaba said the City will continue to do all that is within its power to ensure that it creates safe and connected communities throughout Johannesburg. “Alongside this, we will continue work with our law enforcement authorities to see to it that where arrests are made by JMPD, these cases are not only investigated but also properly prosecuted by law enforcement authorities,” said Mashaba.

What areas do you expect the new unit to focus on?

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https://northeasterntribune.co.za/234805/city-johannesburg-municipal-council-approves-debt-rehabilitation-programme/