Makhura to ‘reduce crime by 50%’ in Gauteng

Gauteng Premier David Makhura boldly predicted to The Citizen that the provincial government plans to reduce crime by 50% over the next two years targeting serious violent crime, the drug scourge, hijackings and robberies, among others.

His government identified 40 police stations in high crime rate areas which contribute to 50% of all crime statistics throughout the country.

He strongly believed that if crime can be reduced inthese areas, it would have a huge impact not only in Gauteng but South Africa as a whole. “Our strategy on policing is for us to focus our resources [on] the 40 police stations.

I get a report every six weeks and we meet with the MEC for community safety, the provincial commissioner, and key stakeholders to discuss the way forward.

Our aim is to reduce crime by 50% over the next two years in the affected areas,” he said. His instruction to station commanders and cluster commanders was to focus on these high crime rate areas.

“Reducing crime would have an impact on reduction of provincial and national statistics,” he said.

Responding to a general outcry about increased daylight muggings and robberies in the Johannesburg city centre, Makhura said police visibility was another area being addressed by his government.

“You always need greater visibility of the metro police at ward level. […] Metro police tend to put too much emphasis on traffic policing. They must also look at crime in general [on] the street.”

Video footage of pedestrians being mugged by groups of youth in full view of the public, are increasingly circulating on social media.

Their modus operandi is that one gang member would grab the victim by the neck from behind, another would search him or her to steal belongings while yet another assaults the victim before walking away in a group.

Makhura said the provincial anti-crime strategy needed to focus on gender-based violence including rape, assault and sexual assault.

– ericn@citizen.co.za

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