THE SAPS said there will be no rest for criminals this festive season, following the launch of its National Safer Festive Season 2026/2027 Operations. The new programme aims to increase crime fighting capabilities and improve visibility over the traditionally busy period.

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A committed force

The programme was launched earlier this month by former Acting National Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane. She said this time of year is about joy, celebration and rest.

“As the festive season begins to illuminate across our nation, bringing families together, filling our roads with travellers and energising our towns, cities and economic centres, the South African Police Service and our partners in the fight against crime stand at the forefront of a national commitment to protect lives, secure communities and safeguard the freedom of every person to celebrate in peace,” she said.

The approach

Dimpane said that the police will be implementing a five-pillar strategy that focuses on high-density policing and crime prevention, combating serious and organised crime, road safety and transport security, protection of tourism destinations, businesses and public spaces and strengthening community partnership, victim support and accountable service delivery.

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“Our priorities include combating organised crime, aggravated robberies, hijackings, illegal firearms, illicit liquor, human trafficking and smuggling, while strengthening responses to gender-based violence and femicide.  We will protect women, children and vulnerable persons and enforce road safety laws against speeding, reckless driving and driving under the influence,” she said.

Strict protocol

Dimpane added that each province will have to adopt this approach and come December, senior management will conduct operational visits to provinces to assess readiness, monitor performance and intensify deployments where necessary. She also said there will be a special focus on coastal provinces, like Durban, which are tourism hotspots around this season.

“Trust must be earned through professional service. Every person reporting crime deserves dignity, every victim deserves compassionate assistance, and every legitimate community concern deserves a response. We reject vigilantism, xenophobia and violence. Our commitment is to lawful, impartial and accountable policing,” she said.

Those who intend to exploit or disrupt the festive season were given a stern warning by Dimpane who said, “SAPS is prepared, our resources are mobilised, our partnerships are strengthened and our members are ready to act decisively within the law.”

The interventions put in place

Deputy Minister of Police Cassel Mathale also detailed the actions being taken by the police in preparation of the festive season

• The police will be conducting integrated campaigns and law enforcement operations across communities to aggressively target perpetrators of violent crimes against women and children
• Preventing aggravated robberies and trio of crime
• Tightening border security, working alongside the Border Management Authority
• Dismantling the illicit economy
• Enforcing firearm, liquor and second-hand goods compliance.
• Rigorous road safety, in partnership with national, provincial, and local traffic authorities.
• Securing major events – with this year being the election year, the police will be co-ordinating security measures for the local government elections, including the protection of voting stations and results.
• The police will also be targeting extortion and kidnapping.

Mathale said South Africans deserved to enjoy their well earned break and not have to worry about criminals.

“Fighting and eliminating all forms of crime remain our primary mandate as the Department of Police. Therefore, the safer festive season programme does not replace our primary policing functions but is intended to augment and upscale policing during the holiday season,” he said.

Durban South police stations will also be adopting these measures at their respective stations.

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