Police Minister Bheki Cele has launched this year’s national security operation to ensure that all South Africans are safe and secure on the country’s roads during this year’s festivities, APA learnt on Friday.
Themed “More Boots on the Ground Towards Enhanced Police Visibility,” the three-month nationwide security operation has six key themes to enhance the country’s safety and security issues during and beyond the festivities, Cele said.
“The South African Police Service is striving to ensure the well-being and safety of all residents and tourists in our country during the festive season and beyond,” Cele said.
With the campaign running through to the end of January 2023, the launch is aimed at mobilising maximum resources with the view of stamping the authority of the state to ensure that all communities felt safe and secure in the country, he added.
In this regard, Cele handed over 20 new motor vehicles and two mobile Community Service Centre’s (CSC) to the Limpopo province to ensure the region is well-resourced to respond to crime.
“These vehicles and mobile CSCs must assist in ensuring that you address rape and business robberies in areas like Thohoyandou,” he told the police officers during the launch.
The minister said the police had decided to launch the campaign in the town of Thohoyandou in Limpopo province due to the notorious reputation the town has in topping the list of having the greatest number of rape cases in the region – and placing it fifth place nationwide.
The national launch would serve as a precursor to the provincial launches, ushering in a season of heightened visibility countrywide – coupled with intensified, integrated crime prevention, and crime combatting operations, he said.
NM/jn/APA