Use resources to intercept crime, minister tells cops
“Officers must be mindful that they are mandated by the law to protect lives and property at all costs.”
Police minister Bheki Cele encouraged police officers to use the resources they had available to them to not only intercept crime, but to root it out as well.
“Police must use all available resources at their disposal to root out violent crime in communities and intercept would-be gangs or anyone with the intent to create lawlessness going into the peak of the festive season,” he said.
“Officers must be mindful that they are mandated by the law to protect lives and property at all costs.”
Cele, who made the remarks during the safer festive season campaign inspection tour last week, also urged police officers to go into the festive season with both caution and agility.
“Each day, officers must – through their actions – send a strong message to criminals that these callous acts don’t have a space in our society,” he said.
Cele further said that while there was an anticipated increase in some crime categories during the festive season, police were using their resources to curb such acts.
“Cash-in-transit heists, carjackings and home invasions remain some of the crimes most feared by South Africans, and we know there will be increased attempts of these type of crimes during the holiday season. This is why Gauteng police are shifting resources to counter these violent acts,” he said.
ALSO READ: Traffic police urge drivers to prioritise other road users’ safety
During the inspection, he also called on officers to act swiftly on illegal mining by the so-called zama zama miners by making arrests and taking away the firearms they used to eliminate competition when fighting over stolen minerals.
“The increase in illegal mining in the West Rand area is setting back the country’s economy by billions of rands and claiming lives through underground wars,” Cele said.
However, police management in the province was said to have assured the ministry that there was an operational plan to shift resources to counter the criminality which was gaining momentum.
Cele also called on police officers to have a zero tolerance approach to those who harmed women and children along with those who terrorised communities through fear crimes.
ZP
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
