- Cape Town police launched an extensive crime prevention plan for the festive season, targeting serious crimes like drunk driving, domestic violence, and extortion.
- Roadblocks and stop-and-search operations will be conducted to ensure community safety.
- The public is urged to avoid buying stolen goods and to drink responsibly during the holiday period.
Drunk driving, domestic violence and extortion are three of nine key priorities outlined by police management as part of its festive season operations.
Launched on Thursday 17 October at the Rocklands Sports Grounds in Mitchells Plain by police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola alongside his provincial counterpart, Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile and Western Cape Minister for Police Oversight and Community Safety Anaroux Marais, the plan will prioritise high-density integrated partnership operations.
Under the Operation Shanela umbrella, roadblocks, stop and searches and the tracking and tracing of wanted suspects will dominate this period and an aggressive stance will be taken against serious and violent crimes so that the public can enjoy a peaceful holiday.
At the launch, several hundred commissioned officers attached to various police units – including tactical response, mountain, K9, flying squad and equestrian – were joined by the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security fraternity. They will all join forces in policing the province.
Tourists
Mzwakhe Nqavashe, chair of the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee in the City, says the partnership will be crucial in policing during the festive season.
“This festive season is once again promising to be a massive one on the score of both domestic and international tourists,” he says. “I want to highlight the importance of the working relationship between police, our province and the City of Cape Town safety and security agencies. Our collaboration is essential in ensuring the safety and security of our communities.”
Masemola encouraged residents to spend and transact with their money wisely. “Don’t buy (second-hand goods) on the street because if you buy on the street, you are buying property that may have been stolen and somebody may have lost his or her life for you to get that property,” he said.
With the increase in alcohol access and consumption over the season, Masemola issued a stern warning to motorists that police would have a zero-tolerance in accordance with general road safety.
he said.
With extortion rife in the province and nationally, Masemola said the officers would employ the necessary force.
“If we pick you up in terms of intelligence, we follow you and we will arrest you. If you resist, we will make sure to use force that is proportional,” he cautioned.
Masemola said fake and illicit goods and the by-law enforcement, including noise and music, will also form part of the operations over the festive period.
New vehicles
The launch also saw the handing over of several new vehicles, which will primarily be used by detectives.
In attendance were members of various police stations, community in blue, neighbourhood watch members and other safety volunteers.
Officers from various units also hosted displays and exhibitions on how they would address an accident scene, an extortion attempt and a protest blocking a police station. These demonstrations made use of stun grenades, smoke bombs and even blank bullets in a demonstration of preparedness for these encounters.
Patekile also received and handed over the province’s tactical plan for the season. This was the first provincial launch since the national launch hosted in Mamelodi earlier this month.
