Bring criminals to us dead or alive – Police Minister Bheki Cele
The Police Minister, Bheki Cele, urged officers to prioritise community safety during the launch of the Safer Festive Season campaign at the University of Venda on November 3.
LIMPOPO – Police visibility, crime prevention and detection, and a zero tolerance attitude are the key focus points for men and women in blue during the festive season.
Police Minister Bheki Cele urged officers to prioritise community safety during the launch of the festive season operations in Thohoyandou on November 3.
Cele was joined by his deputy, Cassel Mathale, Transport and Community Safety MEC Florence Radzilani, Vhembe District Mayor Dowelani Nenguda, Thulamela Mayor Sarah Rammbuda and traditional leaders who addressed the gathering of the Safer Festive Season campaign launch held at the University of Venda.
“We want people to be safe this festive season and we urge police to be harsh on criminals. Bring criminals to us dead or alive. I salute police officers in Limpopo who showed us that, they can be harsh with criminals. Although the late mayor of Collins Chabane, Moses Maluleke was gunned down, we are happy that hardworking police officers have arrested the suspects and they will answer to the court as to what happened,” Cele said.
He said the police must serve to protect the communities and pay attention to women and children abuse.
“I plea to police officers that when women come to the police station to report cases of rape or assault, to not send them home to negotiate. Instead, arrest anyone who commits a violent act against women, children and elderly people.”
Cele added: “We chose to host the launch in Thohoyandou for several reasons and one of them is that Thohoyandou police station nationwide ranks among the top four stations as far as rape cases are concerned. We want to make people feel safe, especially women and children. We want people to live in peace in Thohoyandou. We heard and are worried about the so-called rotten Jerusalem in Thohoyandou, known for crime, and doing things they are not supposed to do. We want the provincial police commissioner and the area commissioner in Vhembe to deal with and shut down this rotten Jerusalem with immediate effect.”
He further handed over 20 vehicles to police officers in the Vhembe region and warned officers to use them for the purpose of preventing crime and not to drive around for joy rides and shopping.
Acting national police commissioner Lt Genl Tebello Mosikilli gave an overview of the safer festive season operations’ aim to create more police visibility, to prevent crime and to mobilise resources in fighting crime.
Nenguda said they are honoured to be the host district of the launch.
