Province winning fight against crime

This was according to the provincial Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe, during the launch of the Safer Festive Season operation in Oakley, Bushbuckridge. Oakley is one of the areas within this municipality deeply affected by crime and gangs.

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“We are slowly winning the fight. We all know that this area was very problematic, but things are slowly getting back to normal. This is because our police with the CPFs and the community at large are collaborating well together to fight crime. We will intensify our efforts and fix our mistakes where necessary so that we can create safer communities,” said Shongwe.

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He said he will engage both the police ministry and the national police commissioner to help deploy more police to target hotspots in the province.

During this official launch, which was attended by the national police commissioner, Gen Khehla Sitole, and the chairperson of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, Kgoshi Mokoena, Shongwe committed to focus more resources towards the fight against crime, with gender-based violence as his top priority. “Our aim is to ensure that our citizens enjoy the festive season without being mistreated or threatened by anyone,” Shongwe said.

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Sitole said he sleeps peacefully when thinking of Mpumalanga, because of the province’s fight against crime.

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“Mpumalanga has everything under control. We don’t mean that crime is not committed here, we just mean it is stabilising. Mpumalanga doesn’t give me sleepless nights. I have confidence in the actions and plans put in place to combat crime in this province. I am just more worried about other provinces,” said Sitole.