Police visibility, crime prevention and detection, and a zero tolerance attitude are the key focus points for men and women in blue during the festive season.

This is according to Police Minister Bheki Cele who urged officers to prioritise community safety during the launch of the festive season operations in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, last week Thursday.

Cele was joined by his deputy, Cassel Mathale, Transport and Community Safety MEC Florence Radzilani, Vhembe Mayor Dowelani Nenguda, Thulamela Mayor Sarah Rammbuda and traditional leaders at the launch of the Safer Festive Season campaign held at the University of Venda.

“We want people to be safe this festive season and we urge police to be harsh on criminals. Bring criminals to us, dead or alive. I salute police officers in Limpopo who showed us that they can be harsh with criminals. Although the late mayor of Collins Chabane, Moses Maluleke, was gunned down, we are happy that hard working police officers have arrested the suspects and they will answer to the court as to what happened,” Cele said.

He said the police must serve to protect the communities and pay attention to the abuse of women and children.

“I plea to police officers that when women come to the police station to report cases of rape or assault, to not send them home to negotiate. Instead, arrest anyone who commits a violent act against women, children and elderly people.”

Cele added: “We chose to host the launch in Thohoyandou for several reasons and one of them is that Thohoyandou Police Station nationwide ranks among the top four stations as far as rape cases are concerned. We want to make people feel safe, especially women and children. We want people to live in peace in Thohoyandou. We heard and are worried about the so-called rotten Jerusalem in Thohoyandou, known for crime, and doing things they are not supposed to do. We want the provincial police commissioner and the area commissioner in Vhembe to deal with and shut down this rotten Jerusalem with immediate effect.”

He handed over 20 vehicles to police officers in the Vhembe region and warned officers to use them for the purpose of preventing crime and not to drive around for joy rides and to do shopping.

Acting national police commissioner Leutenant General Tebello Mosikilli gave an overview of the safer festive season operations’ aim to create more police visibility, to prevent crime and to mobilise resources in fighting crime.