The TMPD said the department was aware of the video circulating on social media. Photo for illustration: File image
The City of Tshwane yesterday launched a task team to help fight crime in the city’s industrial hub, with mayor Cilliers Brink promising to improve service delivery.
The Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) and the Capital City Business Chamber (CCBC) launched the Rosslyn Improvement District (RID) task team to address challenges in the area.
A total of 16 TMPD officers underwent motorbike and defensive driving training to form part of the task team and will be deployed in the Rosslyn industrial area daily to help prevent crime and ensure the safety of businesses and residents.
Head of the department of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Limpopo, Prof Jaco Barkhuizen, said any form of visible policing was always a good idea.
“Having them visible in the community theoretically will make it more difficult for crime to occur, or reaction to crime occurring would be faster.”
Barkhuizen said enforcing bylaws would contribute to fighting crime. “At least something is being done by properly trained municipal police officers,” he said.
Brink said the Rosslyn industrial area was very important to as it is one of the largest contributors to the country’s economy and job creation within the city.
“We have a vested interest in ensuring that this industrial area receives all the support necessary to continue to prosper,” he said.
“The Rosslyn industrial area is a critical industrial hub that’s home to over 200 businesses, including major players such as BMW, Nissan, and Tata.”
Brink thanked the Rosslyn Business Forum, the Capital City Business of Chamber, the TMPD and local councillors for getting the unit off the ground.
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“As we launch the RID, a memorandum of understanding between the city and the RID is in the process of being finalised and once concluded, this will assist to streamline our partnership.”
He said Tshwane would also focus on stabilising its finances by reducing the number of unscheduled water and electricity outages, investing in core infrastructure and mitigating the effects of load shedding, by reducing reliance on Eskom.
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