Festive season operations yield positive results
Various operations were conducted at different times on specific days.
During the 2024 festive season, Brakpan SAPS adopted a new approach to crime prevention to ensure the community’s safety and security remained uncompromised.
The SAPS, in collaboration with the CPF, Afriforum, EMPD, and private security companies, conducted various crime prevention operations, scheduled in shifts to cover both day and night.
“It was overwhelming how the law enforcers willingly sacrificed time with their families and rest days during a crucial season and spent sleepless nights to protect the inhabitants of the precinct and their properties,” said Constable Audrey Buthelezi, Brakpan SAPS Sector 1 manager and corporate communications officer.
Various operations were conducted at different times on specific days to ensure coverage of the four sectors of the precinct.
“Areas of focus during these operations were ATMs, petrol stations, malls and shopping centres, firework hotspots, liquor outlets, spaza shops, supermarkets and residential areas,” explained Buthelezi.
On December 30 and31, 2024, law enforcement officers were out in full force for the SAPS’ two-day ‘Safer Festive Season No-Nonsense’ operation, which commenced at 09:00 on the 30th and concluded at 05:00 on January 1, 2025.
“During this period, the Brakpan station commander Brigadier Johanna Ngoma, flanked by the Vispol commander, Colonel Robert Makopo and other SAPS officers, conducted compliance checks especially in liquor outlets, spaza shops and supermarkets whilst another team of law enforcers headed by the sector 1 manager, Constable Buthelezi conducted high visibility patrols at various shopping centres, the Mall@Carnival and residential areas.
“Contact and property crimes were targeted, and the operations proved fruitful with a decrease in common robbery, house break-ins, theft of and out of motor vehicles, and house robberies.
ALSO READ: Meela Matome Aubrey: The unsung hero saving lives
“This is compared to December of 2023. On the other hand, business robberies, truck hijackings and business break-ins increased compared to 2023,” explained Buthelezi.
“The Brakpan SAPS and other law enforcement agencies welcomed the compared statistics as they were revealed.
“The approach implemented during the festive season proved to be both effective and efficient for crime prevention and will be considered for future use. Communities are encouraged to support law enforcement officers and assist in the fight against crime.
“SAPS is calling on community members to stay informed and take charge of their neighbourhoods. We can win the fight against crime only if the community members work with us and not against us,” said Buthelezi.
ALSO READ: Still no light at the end of the tunnel for Withok residents
