Gauteng’s Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko has expressed concern about people not wearing masks in public spaces, vehicles and when using public transportation.
The MEC spoke at the Ivory Park Police Station ahead of a Okae Molao operation which was also supported by the Gauteng Province Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, on 29 April.
Mazibuko explained that as the Gauteng Provincial Government, they had prepared a safety strategy to make sure that the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies were included as part of the operation.
“As the department, our work is to monitor that what was set out in our strategy was actually being implemented. One thing that we noticed about Gauteng is that most of the crimes were being transported by road. People go out and commit crimes in areas and then move via roads to go to other places,” she said.
Mazibuko added that the Department of Community Safety should ensure that drivers were aware of their responsibility on the roads, as well as to monitor if police are treating motorists in a fair manner. “What disturbed me so far was that I have seen people not wearing masks. The president said we must wear masks all the time, so even when you are in your car, regardless of you travelling alone or with passengers, put on your mask.
“When you get to a road block, put on your mask because the person you are interacting with may be asymptomatic and, as we are headed towards the third wave of the coronavirus, we do not know who is carrying the virus, therefore, wear your mask and sanitise.”
Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela added that he was at the operation to support the Ekurhuleni District commissioner and Ivory Park Police Station commander as Ivory Park is a very problematic area, not only for the district but the province as well.
He said they had different phases of the operation, as some of the provinces detectives had gone to look for wanted suspects which resulted in the arrest of over 900 wanted and known suspects across all districts and the province. “We are pleased with what they have done,” Mawela concluded.
