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MINISTRY OF POLICE
SPEAKER NOTES FOR POLICE MINISTER GENERAL BHEKI CELE ON THE UPDATE OF FESTIVE SEASON POLICING OPERATIONS ON CHRISTMAS EVE. Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, Over the past week, the Police Ministry as well as the SAPS management have visited the four crime heavy provinces, as part of the annual safer festive season inspection tour. SAFER FESTIVE SEASON OPERATIONS The oversight visits form part of the decision to ensure that South African and all those living within our borders are and feel safe and their properties are protected during the holiday season and beyond. On this Christmas Eve, we wish to update the nation on the oversight visits as well as the effectiveness of policing interventions in various provinces to keep communities safer. We have said that all hands are on deck as the police, to protect citizens and their properties through the SAPS Festive Season Operational Plan. The operational plan which was put in place on the15th of October is being tailored according to provincial crime patterns. Ladies and Gentlemen, As the Ministry and SAPS management, we are convinced the Operational Plan this festive season is effective and should be maintained for safer holidays. The country’s law enforcement agencies have and continue to respond decisively to crime this holiday season and beyond. ROADBLOCKS It is on this score that the SAPS is maintaining high visibility on our roads and at ports of entry to arrest crime and any form of criminality in transit. Since the 15th of October, police have conducted 3 364 roadblocks across the country. Officers have conducted over 200 thousand Stop and Searches and 26 569 vehicle Check Points. Over 500 thousand vehicles and foot patrols across the country have so far been conducted in communities. As part of crime prevention efforts, the SAPS has also conducted almost half a million compliance inspections at gun shops, second hand goods taverns and liquor outlets. Pursuing wanted suspects, murder rape and GBV suspects has also been high on the priority of police work, 6 244 tracking and tracing operations have been conducted since October. PROJECT 10K FIRST 10 DAYS The new Constables who have joined the police service are proving to be a valuable addition in the safer festive season operational plan. Just ten days in their posts, they have certainly increased the footprint of the SAPS. For ten days they have been deployed to maintain high visibility especially in areas of business, leisure and around transport hubs across identified areas. In our interactions with shoppers, holidaymakers and motorists and commuters through the safer festive season roadshow, the high police visibility has been highly welcomed Through our bold efforts and our decisive policing approach to fighting crime, police operations continue to ensure that we get a grip on serious and violent crime in the country. FESTIVE SEASON ARRESTS Since 15 October to date, police have arrested over 75 thousand suspects for various crimes; This includes 560 murder suspects. 604 suspects have been charged with Attempted Murder and 470 Rape suspects have been taken off our streets. 6 700 Assault GBH suspects and almost 5 thousand alleged assaulters have been arrested for common assault. 408 suspects who tried to break into business properties have been arrested. 561 people found in possession of firearms and ammunition are also behind bars. During this time, over 11 thousand undocumented individuals have been arrested and efforts to deport the out of the country are underway. ALCHOHOL Ladies and Gentlemen, While it is appreciated that the festive season is a time for enjoyment and festivities, it remains very alarming that some motorists still choose to drink and drive. Police have arrested 4 488 drunk drivers since the 15th of October. Since the start of December to the 22 of December 2 500 people have been arrested for public drinking across the country. 850 people were nabbed for being drunk and disorderly in a public place. Police are acting hard on the abuse of liquor, which remains a core driver of crime, especially contact crimes. We are giving a stern warning to those who are stubbornly opting to trade liquor illegally; that their liquor establishment will be shut down and the liquor will be confiscated and they as owners of those establishments will be arrested. To date, inspections at liquor outlets have resulted in 6 410 fines issued for non-compliance. Just in the first 22 days of December, police have arrested 17 844 suspects for illegally trading in liquor. We continue to call on liquor traders to trade responsibly and liquor traders must be fully compliant; This is a non negotiable. A further 13 244 suspects have been arrested by the police and charged with drug related crimes this festive season. The sporadic crime incidents so far this holiday season, bolster policing efforts to ensure the safety and security of those living within our borders and their properties. While crime levels are not at acceptable levels, what is CLEAR is that the space for criminals to operate has been squeezed as a result of amplified police interventions. A bolstered intelligence community, high density targeted and disruptive operations in identified areas accompanied by the extended police footprint on the ground through the inclusion of new Constables has worked in our favour. The work of the SAPS has so far resulted in numerous breakthroughs, which I wish to highlight. Just in the last week… GAUTENG: The SAPS in Gauteng together with the SANDF have made inroads in tackling illegal mining and arrested more than 300 undocumented foreign nationals who are also suspected to be illegal miners. High Caliber firearms, which include AK-47 rifles, were recovered. A substantial amount of tools used for illegal mining, including gas cylinders, generators, and explosives, were seized. Still in Gauteng, in Nomzamo Park in the South of Johannesburg, three Lesotho nationals believed to be illegal miners were arrested and three AK-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered. WESTERN CAPE: Within days of commission of the crime, a serial offender was arrested for the murder of a CPF co-chairperson who was shot and killed at her home in Gugulethu. Last night, the SAPS in the Western Cape arrested suspects found in possession of illegal high caliber rifles during a roadblock on the N1. NORTH WEST: Five suspects were arrested for the murder of nine people of which four high caliber firearms were recovered and 30 illegal immigrants were arrested during a police take-down. In the police services continued efforts to address the illicit market, SAPS in the Eastern Cape have recovered 8 million rand worth of counterfeit goods while Gauteng SAPS have removed 250 thousand rand worth of counterfeit goods of the streets. These illicit goods include expired food items, toiletries electronics and tobacco products. It is on this score, that the public is cautioned against buying these illicit goods and any other stolen goods. As it is common knowledge that the festive season is a period largely characterized by festivities and increased migration of people within and across our borders. This is also a time where crime migrates from inland regions towards the coastal cities where there are higher population numbers. In the SAPS’ response to National Rural Safety strategy, we continue to work together with the farming community. These operations have yielded results where livestock have been recovered and suspects arrested. SAPS in the Free State arrested two suspects after allegedly stealing livestock. 19 sheep carcasses were found in their possession. CONCLUSION Fellow South Africans, This holiday period is also anchored by high police visibility and the SAPS working closely with community policing structures to minimise crime. The work of the country’s Community Policing Forum (CPF) has also been bolstered as CPF continue to be supplied with vehicles and communication tools of trade through the 70 million funding. In closing, this Christmas Eve, Police are under instruction to continue to saturate the streets and prevent crime or act swiftly when crime has occurred. This will continue throughout the festive season and beyond. We are making a clarion call on all those in the country to remain extra vigilant of their surroundings and minimise the risk of falling victim to crime. We also call on citizens to report any suspicious activities to law enforcement and continue to work closely with the police against the common enemy of crime. See Something, Say Something! I Thank you. ENDS/ |
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