As South Africa enters the festive season, SAPS has launched its annual Safer Festive Season Campaign, a high-density policing initiative aimed at combating the surge in criminal activity typically seen during the October to January holiday period.

The national SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, told the Alberton Record that the campaign is a central part of SAPS’ visible policing strategy, mobilising resources nationally and provincially to ensure public safety during a time when South Africans are travelling, shopping, socialising, and handling cash more frequently.

Structured, intelligence-led operations

The 2025/2026 Safer Festive Season operations will follow a structured five-phase plan:

Phase 1 – Pre-holiday season: 01 October – 30 November 2025

Phase 2 – Start of holiday season: 01–14 December 2025

Phase 3 – Holiday season: 15 December 2025 – 01 January 2026

Phase 4 – End of holiday season: 02–15 January 2026

Phase 5 – Post-holiday season: 16–31 January 2026

The plan adopts a multi-disciplinary approach, guided by intelligence-led operations, with national and provincial structures identifying priority areas and providing tactical insights to direct interventions.

Targeting key crime areas

SAPS has identified 10 critical focus areas to guide operational priorities:

• GBVF: Preventative campaigns, victim support, protection order enforcement, and deployment of specialised units in GBVF hotspots.

• Aggravated robberies: Disruption of organised criminal groups involved in carjackings, business and residential robberies, and cash-in-transit crimes.

• Border security: Strengthened presence at ports of entry, prevention of smuggling and human trafficking, in partnership with the Border Management Authority.

• Illicit economy and organised crime: Targeting illegal mining, drug networks, counterfeit goods, and organised crime groups exploiting festive trade flows.

• Firearms, liquor, and second-hand goods: Enforcement of firearm and liquor laws, and inspections of second-hand goods dealers.

• By-laws, urban decay, and hijacked buildings: Municipal law enforcement operations to secure unsafe buildings and reduce urban crime opportunities.

• Road safety and traffic enforcement: Campaigns targeting drunk driving, speeding, and unroadworthy vehicles, alongside major travel route management.

• Event security: Comprehensive planning for high-risk events, including G20 Leaders’ Summit, concerts, stadium matches, and New Year celebrations.

• Tourism safety and economic hubs: High-visibility policing at tourist attractions, shopping centres, and transport hubs.

• Extortion and kidnapping: Intelligence-driven operations to dismantle syndicates targeting businesses and individuals, including rapid response for high-risk incidents.

Five-pillar operational approach

The campaign is underpinned by the Five Pillar Operational Approach, ensuring a coordinated and effective response:

Pillar 1: Intelligence gathering, analysis, and coordination

Pillar 2: Proactive high-visibility policing

Pillar 3: Combat operations with rapid response

Pillar 4: Reactive investigation and case management

Pillar 5: Communication and liaison with the community

Community involvement is key

Ministerial representatives emphasise that the success of the campaign depends on community participation.

“Together we can curb crime in our beautiful country. Every citizen has a role to play in keeping South Africa and its people safe this festive season,” Mathe said.

The Safer Festive Season 2025/2026 campaign demonstrates SAPS’ commitment to preventing crime, protecting communities, and ensuring a safe and enjoyable holiday season for all South Africans.