The Gauteng Executive Council (Exco) held its ordinary meeting on Wednesday, 30 March 2011 at 30 Simmonds Street in Johannesburg. Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and the full complement of the Gauteng Executive Council attended the meeting.
The top brass of the South African Police Services (SAPS) in Gauteng, led by Commissioner Mzwandile Petros, were also in attendance and presented the Gauteng Co-created Policing Strategy (GCPS) to the Council.
Gauteng Co-created Policing Strategy
The Exco welcomed the Gauteng Co-created Policing Strategy as the new crime-fighting blue-print for the province and agreed to throw its full weight behind the plan.
While the strategy is holistic in its approach it is important to highlight key crime generators which lead to increased crime incidents in the province. The Policing strategy outlines, amongst others, the crime generators as follows:
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The proliferation of liquor outlets in our communities with almost every third house in the settlements being the outlet
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The high concentration of illegal drug manufacturing plants
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Hijacked buildings and hostels becoming hide-outs for criminals and related nefarious activities
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Most spaza shop owners, especially foreign nationals, not using the conventional banking system thus encouraging criminal acts
In addition, corruption remains a challenge for our communities and impacts negatively on crime combating initiatives. The typical example is the disappearance of case dockets as the result of a close collaboration between the ordinary members of society and crooked law enforcement agents. To demonstrate our commitment to fight this scourge we have already arrested 256 law enforcement agents who are suspected of corruption.
It is stated that almost 50% of crime in South Africa is committed in Gauteng which has a serious bearing on the country’s economy and reputation. It, therefore, means that if this situation is left unattended the entire country will be plunged into a chaotic state with criminals ruling the roost. Thus, the combating and winning of this battle should start here in Gauteng.
In order to win the fight against crime, it is critical that we address the issues of access to service points. The strategy places accent on improving the provision of high quality service to the community while the upgrading of infrastructure is also accelerated. To this end, we have already identified service points that require attention.
These include the following police service points:
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Tembisa
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Evaton
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Dube
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Ennerdale
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Olienvenhoutbosch
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Cosmo City and
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Katlehong.
Together with the law enforcement agencies, the Gauteng Provincial Government will focus on undertaking purposeful activities aimed at crushing crime. In line with this position, we will reinforce the Safer School Project aimed at enhancing the teaching and learning environment; improving sector policing and focused deployment of Flying Squad.
We will continue to put more patrol vehicles and other resources in strengthening police visibility as well as building detective capacity. We are fully conscious of the fact that these interventions will not be effective on their own if support and mobilisation of our people is not encouraged and promoted. It is therefore important to emphasise and call for strong partnerships and better coordination in the fight against crime.
We would like to urge all law-abiding residents of Gauteng to embrace this Police Strategy and give support to the work they do as they continue to combat crime. As part of strategic priority to ensure that “All people in South Africa are and feel safe” we, therefore, recommit ourselves in the achievement of this goal. This we do because a safer Gauteng means a safer South Africa.
For more information contact:
Matlakala Motloung
Cell: 082 787 9472
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
