Gijima tsotsi, there are new sheriffs in town. These are sentiments of the new MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Jackie Macie, when speaking to Mpumalanga News about his plans to create a safer Mpumalanga for all.

Macie said the recent introduction of the new acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, has come at the right time and will make his work much easier as they get ready to tackle crime in the province.

“I have already met with the new acting police commissioner and I am happy to say that we are both on the same page. We are both passionate about fighting crime in the province, including bringing an end to the ever increasing rate of killing of our children and women. I have already drawn up a plan of action which will guide us for the first 100 days in office,” said Macie.

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To help to reduce the spate of crime, Macie said his department will recruit 1 200 crime prevention wardens who will augment the already existing initiatives in the ongoing war against crime.

“The recruitment of the wardens will not only assist in responding to crime, but will also help in reducing unemployment. This initiative is vital in the light of the high levels of gender-based violence and crime in communities. We will confront the scourge of crime from all angles. The police alone will not win this war. Hence, the wardens will work with all relevant role players to improve the safety of our communities,” said Macie.

He said they will strengthen the Overall Fridays Campaign, a crime-busting programme that targets crime hotspots and taverns at night.

He was also concerned about the high rate of road carnage in the province, which he believes could be reduced by introducing night shifts for traffic officials so that there is law enforcement visibility on the roads at night.

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“Statistics have proven that many of these accidents happen at night and in most cases are due to human error, emanating from fatigue, driving under the influence of alcohol and excessive speeding. Motorists know there is no visibility at night and so they tend to drive recklessly and end up causing accidents. I believe the third shift will be the answer to decreasing road carnages and we are going to thoroughly look at this option as a department,” said Macie.