Festive safety period plan launched by SAPS
Friday, 15 October saw the official launch of the South African Police Service's nationwide campaign for a safer festive season in Seshego outside Polokwane.
POLOKWANE – During the launch police said they had put together a comprehensive operational plan to deal with the crime in Limpopo in general, as well as addressing road safety.
The plan entails the deployment of highly visible, multi-disciplinary law enforcement teams that will focus on various critical areas identified in operations and intelligence by communities reporting crimes.
Some of the issues mentioned included aggravated armed robberies, house robberies, business robberies and vehicle hijacking.
Enforcing various legislation to help deal with crimes also needs to be looked at.
These include:
• Firearm, Liquor, Second-Hand Goods and Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Acts.
• Targeting crimes against women, children and vulnerable persons.
• Focusing on hijacked buildings and the unlawful sale of fireworks.
• Road safety, such as drunken driving, speeding, driving of unroadworthy vehicles.
• Enhancing border security to search for stolen property as well as drugs and human trafficking.
Speakers during the launch included the Deputy Minister of Police, Bongani Michael Mkongi, the National Acting Police Commissioner, Lt Genl Lesetja Mothiba, and Deputy National Commissioner, Lt Genl Fannie Masemola.
The Deputy Minister of Police, Bongani Michael Mkongi, said that when it comes to safety there is choices that need to be made.
“If you choose darkness and evil you will not be successful and have a country where children will not be safe and crime free, so choose life, not evil, not darkness and help keep South Africa safe,” he said.
Police Spokesperson, Brig Vishnu Naidoo, said the operations are in place already and criminals better be warned they are in the spotlight.
Naidoo added the police have the commitment of various critical stakeholders including the national and provincial road traffic departments and other government departments from the justice, crime prevention and security cluster to make sure people who want to spoil the festive season due to crime are brought to book.
During the launch 100 police vehicles were also handed over to assist the police in increasing their visibility and assisting them in getting to where they are needed the most.
In 2016 more than 700 000 operations were conducted in which 83 479 people were arrested.
