APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) Police Minister Bheki Cele has urged South Africa’s police officers and soldiers to “saturate the streets, malls and shopping centres” in Gauteng province as part of plans to ensure security of residents during the festive season.
Cele said this at the annual Festive Season Inspection Roadshow as he addressed a combined South African Police Services (SAPS) and South African Defence Force parade in Sebokeng town on Tuesday.
The minister said the parade was to show criminals in the province that they would no longer be in charge.
“It is important that this week we are saturated, (and) as many people go to many different places, especially malls, you go and take over those malls and you push back those criminals,” he said during the parade.
Assessing the effectiveness of the SAPS’ Safer Festive Season operational plans which would be in place during the holiday period, the minister said the policing interventions were expected to enable the police and army to decisively deal with crime and any security threats during the festivities.
“We can’t have criminals running over the people of this province. Yes, we know most of the people here will be going to other provinces, especially in the coastal provinces,” he said.
NM/jn/APA