The Pretoria Central SAPS has outlined that crime decreased by 35% this month.
The CBD police recently hosted an engagement with businesspeople and residents within the inner city to address crime trends within the area.
The engagement on June 6 was a follow-up from the imbizo held in Marabastad last month and as part of the monthly engagements the police intend to roll out.
Constable Thabang Nkhumise said: “Crime has seen a significant decline [by] 35% on contact crimes, property-related crimes and other related crimes.
We want to urge tavern owners to create awareness and communicate with their customers to be more cautious at night and avoid falling victim to crime, especially robberies.”
Pretoria Central comprises businesses, state buildings and places of entertainment, where prevalent crimes that concern stakeholders include robberies, assaults and theft out of motor vehicles.
Sector Commander, Sergeant Ndou Tshianne, emphasised the important role whistleblowing plays within the community and urged attendees to report suspicious activity when they see it to help fight the scourge.
“We want to thank you and acknowledge your support and also remember that whistleblowing is very important. You can rest assured your identity will be protected by all means,” Tshianne said.
The reduction in crime comes as Marabastad business owners and residents complained over improper police conduct in the area at a community imbizo hosted by Pretoria Central SAPS on May 15.
They complained that police asked for bribes, and of a lack of sufficient processes to report crimes and mistreatment by police.
Station commander, Brigadier Gibin Hlengane Mashaba told the May 15 attendees that members had to help stop the SAPS corruption in Marabastad.
“When they come and demand money from you, please and please and please again, get the registration number of that vehicle, check on the vehicle, which station does that the car belongs to,” Mashaba said.
He encouraged the residents to open cases at the station instead of calling him or his subordinates, indicating that in this way, they would be able to assist them more effectively. He also assured residents that the matters they investigate were not swept under the carpet and were investigated to completion.
“I always ask for the main charge. Interfering with police duties can never be the main charge, there has to be something else, whether it’s rape, assault, robbery, or whatever it is. Let there be a main charge and inference with the police would be secondary,” Mashaba said.
He said that the Central CPF would be conducting meetings with residents at least once a month and requested that a Central police vehicle be stationed in Marabastad to assist vendors and clamp down on bribe seekers.
Mashaba didn’t lay the entire blame at the feet of his colleagues, but also called out business owners for not following procedure. “The problem is you sometimes. If you don’t have papers and don’t want to apply for the correct ones and you want to do things using shortcuts, it’s always going to be a problem. If I am a South African or foreign national with the right papers, there can’t be anyone demanding money from you,” Mashaba said.
He said most of the time the reflector-wearing bribe solicitors were reservists, most of whom have been dismissed.
Mashaba said he would ask the crime intelligence team to crack down on the practice.
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