Panyaza Lesufi after being voted in at the Gauteng Legislature in Johannesburg on 6 October 2022. Photo: The Citizen/Neil McCartney
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi launched the province’s festive season campaign (#GPSaferFestiveSeason) in Vanderbijlpark on Friday.
The provincial government in Gauteng said the launch was “aimed at educating the public on road safety and ensuring fewer fatalities during this festive season”.
Provincial Police Commissioner Elias Mawela was also in attendance to explain how the plan would be implemented in the province ahead of the festive season.
Mawela said officers are ready for the season ahead and that an additional 6 000 people will be recruited to fight crime in Gauteng.
He promised that Gauteng will have a higher police presence than usual.
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Meanwhile, Lesufi said all resources in the province would be mobilised to fight crime.
He said all legalised guns will have trackers.
“If it’s lost we can track it for you.”
We will provide additional information on how this would work in due course.
Lesufi said one “can’t fight crime with toys”. Therefore, CCTV cameras and drones will be installed to “monitor each corner of Gauteng”.
He said the provincial department will procure high-calibre drones “to fly over Gauteng so we can monitor” the province.
He said six helicopters will be made available – one for each region.
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During the launch, Lesufi said the current number plate system will also be revamped to prevent crimes committed with vehicles.
The new number plates will, according to Lesufi, “be recognised on the CCTV cameras”.
He also said, “every car registered in Gauteng will have a tracker”.
Again, we will report on the logistics of how such a mammoth task would be undertaken once we have more information.
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