A pageant for festive season safety
WESTGATE – The police launched their safer festive season operational plan on 8 November.
The Johannesburg West Cluster police have joined forces with the Metro police to launch their safer festive season operational plan at Westgate Shopping Centre on 8 November.
The event was joined by the mayor of Mogale City Patrick Lipudi, MMC for public safety in Mogale City Lwando Gift Resha, and Councillor and MMC for Public Safety in the City of Johannesburg Michael Sun.
Acting deputy provincial commissioners, as well as cluster commanders, station commanders, and other members of the police from the Johannesburg West Cluster and Metro police were welcomed at the event.
The event included a parade of police vehicles and mounted horses, all moving to the songs of the South African Police Service marching band.
Spokesperson for the Gauteng police Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said, “With shopping malls being one of the biggest crime hotspots during the festive season, we are launching this campaign at malls strategically to show visibility and that the police are here to make sure that everyone enjoys a safe and secure festive season.”
Gauteng Police Deputy Commissioner, Major General Theko Pharasi said, “We are prioritising the safety and security of the citizens of Gauteng province and those visitors who will be joining us over the festive season.”
Police Minister General Bheki Cele together with National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole launched the National Safer Festive Season crime-fighting campaign in the Eastern and Western Cape.
Peters said, “We kicked off our launch at Clearwater Mall this morning, where the acting provincial commissioner Major General Masha walked around the centre and interacted with the patrons. After that, we travelled to Cradlestone Mall and did the same thing with a delegation from the SAPS and Metro Police.
“Parallel to that, we have various roadblocks and various other operations taking place to make sure that we are showing that we mean business.”
The event that took place at Westgate Shopping Centre was the official programme for the launch of the festive season campaign.
“Most importantly, we welcomed members of the community so that they could see how important a day like today is,” said Pharasi.
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