MEC Khabisi Mosunkutu has vowed to get the group of gangsters responsible for the spade of business robberies arrested soon. Mr Mosunkutu issued this warning after discussions with senior personnel of the South African Police Services (SAPS). Intelligence gathered around the recent heist at the Trade Route Mall, in Lenasia, shows that the band of crooks behind this heist has been involved in similar attacks previously. Members of the SAPS already have information about this group of approximately eight heavily armed crooks.
The Gauteng Provincial Government is prioritising the fight against trio crimes. Trio crimes include business and house robberies as well as vehicle hijackings. To effectively counter the cold-hearted attack against members of the SAPS, business owners as well as innocent shoppers, the SAPS has also resolved to increased police visibility the crime hotspots, including shopping malls.
The SAPS have also promised to arm policemen and policewomen tasked with curbing trio crimes, particularly business robberies, with heavy calibre automatic weapons. This will help to match and outmatch the fire power of criminals. The MEC reiterated his stern warning that trio crimes will be dealt with harshly.
Mr Mosunkutu also repeated an earlier warning that members of the SAPS, when faced with armed criminals, must make sure that they do not allow the criminals the split second to aim their weapons at policemen and or policewomen. Rather members of the SAPS must make sure that when countering an attack, they do no miss. They must hit the target and such that when the dust settles, there should be no doubt as to who is in charge.
For more information contact:
Thapelo Moiloa
Tel: 011 689 3826
Cell: 084 805 2247
E-mail: thapelo.moiloa@gauteng.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Community Safety, Gauteng Provincial Government
13 August 2009
Source: Department of Community Safety, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gautsafety.gpg.gov.za/)
