season wishes
21 December 2006
The Minister for Safety and Security Charles Nqakula wishes all South
Africans a safe and happy festive holidays. The public should be assured that
the South African Police Service (SAPS) will be out there in full force to
ensure that communities all over the country can go about their activities with
as little threat to their security and well being as possible.
Security planning operations for the festive period commenced months ago in
the form of joint plans between SAPS, Metro Police, Road Traffic Inspectorate
and other government departments. This was preceded by the ongoing
interventions under the auspices of Operation Iron Fist. Although the focus is
on crimes such as armed robbery, cash in transit heists, bank robberies and
hijacking, SAPS will be on hand to deal with Domestic Violence and substance
abuse related crime.
In order to curtail the availability of firearms and perpetration of violent
crimes a concerted effort is being made to get rid of firearms in our society.
To this end massive road blocks throughout the countryâs main and arterial
roads are being conducted. High Performance vehicles have been deployed to
strategic places in the central business districts and areas that have been
identified as vulnerable in terms of our crime threat and pattern analysis.
At all roadblocks wanted suspect could be detected by the utilisation of
handheld fingerprint machines (Morpho Touch). As usual specific roads have been
identified in accordance with our crime threat and crime pattern analysis. In
addition as part of the new tactics to combat violent and serious crime in
South Africa the SAPS will be making greater use of their air wing as well as
South African National Defence Force (SANDF) helicopters to mount mobile air
roadblocks where roadblocks are moved from point A to point B at lightning
speed.
Intensive air, foot, vehicular and horse patrols will be undertaken at the
various centres expecting an influx of tourists and rapid response teams will
be placed at strategic places to deal with any kind of situations. The popular
touristâs destinations will be beefed up with additional personnel.
Finally, the Minister appeals to communities to co-operate with the police
as this is the most effective ways of crime prevention and detection. A
sterling example of this type of interaction was the recent positive response
by the National Religious Leaders Forum (NRLF) who promised to make their
leaders available at some roadblocks during the festive season in support of
the operations that the Departments of Transport and Safety and Security will
mount to curb road traffic violations and crime prevention.
Enquiries:
Trevor Bloem
Director: Communication and Media Liaison
Cell: 082 778 3561
Issued by: Department of Safety and Security
21 December 2006
