Gauteng challenged to take the lead in fighting crime
Policing in Gauteng received a major boost when 80 new vehicles were handed over to various stations and units across the province as part of a programme to ensure that the police have access to resources that will enable them to effectively fight crime. Another batch of vehicles is due for delivery before the end of this financial year.
The vehicle handover which was held at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg took place as part of the official opening of the Yeoville Police Station. The station has seen a major transformation from a four-roomed Hillbrow satellite station to a fully-fledged one, servicing the community of Yeoville and surrounding areas. It has amongst its many services, the detective crime centre, community service centre, victim empowerment centre, holding cells that can take up to 50 people at a time and a Gym. It is the first in Gauteng to be opened as part of the Front-line Service Delivery (FSD) project.
FSD is a massive, bold and ambitious project in support of Government and its public institutions (more specifically, the police service), with accessibility, user-friendliness and quality service delivery to communities.
Addressing the public, Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko noted that the opening of Yeoville Police Station is happening a day after the release of the Victim of Crimes Survey by Statistics SA.
“Constructing a police station is a direct response to the need to have citizens that “are and feel safe”. What this means is that we have to accelerate delivery of this infrastructure to as many people as possible because we have evidence that police stations add to the feeling of safety and they improve police visibility in the area, therefore decrease some of the crimes that cause debilitating fear.”
Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Khomotso Phahlane called on police officers to maximise the use of the resources at their disposal to ensure crime free communities.
“We urge members that these vehicles are for policing purposes and not to serve our own selfish agendas of doing groceries with them while we are not patrolling the streets in our communities. Let us move the cars from under the trees and bridges and alongside the roads to where they are needed and be more visible.
“Let us do justice to the resources that we have. Gauteng is the number one contributor to crime statistics yet it is most resourced. I believe there is potential and capabilities to stretch ourselves and be number one in dealing with crime.”
