[VIDEOS + GALLERY]: Gauteng SAPS launches festive operation at MOTS
The Gauteng SAPS are geared up to deliver another safe festive season.
THE South African Police Service (SAPS) leadership in Gauteng officially launched the provincial 2017 Safer Festive Season operations on November 3 at the rooftop parking at Mall of the South.
This follows the recent national launch held in Limpopo and is characterised by inter alia, heightened police visibility and crime prevention operations at identified crime hotspots, while at the same time continuing to prioritise the safety of women and children. The operations commenced in September and will run until the end of January 2018.
Members of the public were invited to interact with the police and visit the exhibition stalls by the SAPS, Gauteng departments of community safety, various Metro police departments and external stakeholders.
A statement was recently released by SAPS stating that in 2016 the media played a valuable role during the Safer Festive Season operations, collaborating with the police in encouraging members of the public to report crime to the police, and more importantly, creating awareness by communicating and sharing general safety tips with the public.
Captain and reverend Monametsi opened the launch in prayer. The Johannesburg central cluster commander, Maj Gen Rajin delivered the welcoming address followed by a musical interlude by the band. Mr Masilela (provincial CPF chairman), Chief Podile (community safety) and Michael Sun (MMC for public safety) delivered messages of support followed by another musical interlude.
Provincial commissioner of police in Gauteng, Lt Gen Deliwe de Lange delivered the keynote address saying that the SAPS are ready for criminals and anticipate a decrease in crime as SAPS have formed alliances with various security companies. De Lange confirmed that SAPS will continue with its Back-To-Basics campaign that proved to be a success last year.
Following the keynote address was a message of support from the national representatives followed by the closing remarks. SAPS reassured the community of the south and Gauteng that they are serious about crime and will not tolerate criminals. Some of the departments present were: special patrol, Ekurhuleni flying squad, Tshwane flying squad, JMPD, saturation unit, search and rescue, Gauteng K9 unit, Gauteng mounted unit, Brixton SAPS, Gauteng Vispol, Booysens SAPS, Alexandra SAPS, water police, metro police, Thembisa cluster, social crime prevention, Moffatview SAPS, special task forces, CPF’s, SOS security, Nduma security and Safe Zone tactical to name a few.
Dignitaries all walked around the mall, interacted with customers at the mall and viewed the exhibition stalls.
