Law enforcement agencies unite to fight crime in Gauteng

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi led the signing ceremony of the Gauteng Safety Agreement, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on integrated cross-boundary law enforcement operations, at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus on April 15.

The MOU brought together the Gauteng provincial government, SAPS, municipal police departments, and district and local municipalities. It elaborated on an existing cooperation agreement between SAPS and the cities of Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni.

During the ceremony, Lesufi stated: “If we cannot get crime right, we will never attract investments in our province, and tourism will suffer.”

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Lesufi said the signing ceremony was a sign of the people of Gauteng reclaiming their province, restoring law and order, and eliminating lawlessness.

Lesufi emphasised the importance of taking back control, stating: “All those that thought they control Gauteng, must know the real bosses are coming back to reclaim our province.”

Gauteng Premier also highlighted the pressing issue of GBV, noting it is the only crime on the rise in Gauteng.
To address this, he called for a 72-hour activation period to hunt down perpetrators and ensure women’s freedom and safety in the province.

This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing law enforcement and promoting safety through collaborative efforts with SAPS and other agencies.

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Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero emphasised the significance of the recent signing ceremony as a foundation for a long-term partnership aimed at restoring public trust, upholding the law, and ensuring Gauteng residents feel safe.

“Through this partnership, we can deploy smarter and faster and respond to the law decisively, whether it is in the inner city of Johannesburg, the townships of Tshwane, and the townships of Sedibeng,” he said.

Morero explained the ceremony marked more than just the signing of the MOU. Instead, it represented a strategic partnership between metros, spheres of government, and law agencies, crucial for reclaiming communities from crime and disaster.

Chief of the TMPD, Commissioner Yolande Faro, remarked: “The MOU is important for Gauteng because criminals do not know municipal boundaries. As metros, we aim to reduce crime and to ensure bylaw enforcement.”