Local operation launched to sweep out crime hotspots in Soweto
The minister announced during his budget speech that additional funds were allocated for the top 30 listed police stations to fight crime levels in those areas.
This past weekend, the South African Police Service (SAPS) officially launched the hotspot focused, Operation Shanela in Soweto.
This comes two months after the crime operation was upgraded from Okae Moloa and nationalised to target predominantly high crime hotspots areas.
This is on the backdrop of increasing crime and violence in the country with first quarter crime statistics indicating that 1 485 attempted murder cases of women in the first three months of this year were recorded. A further 10 512 women were raped between January and March and 6 289 people murdered during the same period.
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Police Minister, Bheki Cele said the launch of the operation was aimed at tooting out and intensifying the response against crime.
“Operation Shenela is to sweep clean and make sure that we increase operations for preventing crime from happening. The concentration of Shenela is to be there and fight crime before it happens. Every Thursday to Monday morning, we saturate all streets of the high density crime areas with high density police,” said Cele.
According to Minister Cele, SAPS is currently training 10 000 new personnel, and 1000 TRT special forces to add to the fight against crime.
The minister announced during his budget speech that additional funds were allocated for the top 30 listed police stations to fight crime levels in those areas.
“Tactical Response Teams and SAPS must be at all times in the streets, in people’s homes and find those people who are not supposed to live and be amongst people.
“And make sure we squeeze the oxygen from criminals. We are training tracking teams because all those people must be found. Everybody that commits crimes must not have a place in the community.”
The operation will prioritize among others illegal firearms, ammunition and explosives, drugs, contraband items, alcohol, human trafficking, prostitution, illegal occupation of buildings, persons with disability and women and children. Violent crimes, undocumented persons and kidnapping for ransom.
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In addition, the weekly combating operations will comprise of road blocks, vehicle checkpoints, high visibility patrol and tracking of wanted suspects.
“We want deployment at these hotspot areas to heighten visibility and swift response to incidents, through the deployment of more intelligence operatives, integrated criminal case management, criminal justice system, strengthened CPF structures, enforcement of bylaws and other compliances,” add Deputy National Commissioner for Police, Lieutenant General Mosikili.
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During the launch, the first batch of drones were displayed and will form part of the 28 drones that will be handed over to the SAPS units to enhance tracking and tracing of suspects. The drones will be rolled out in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape and later in other provinces.
