The South African Police Service will launch a crime prevention programme in the 63 areas of South Africa identified as experiencing the most contact crimes, Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula said on Tuesday.
Speaking in the National Council of Provinces, Nqakula said he will work with the ministries of agriculture and land affairs, housing, and provincial and local government to address the problems arising from the current patterns of human settlements in the country.
He said emphasis will be placed on providing services to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people.
The programme will be launched in Duncan Village in the Eastern Cape, Batho in the Free State, Mamelodi in Gauteng, KwaMashu in KwaZulu-Natal, Thohoyandou in Limpopo, Kanyamazane in Mpumalanga, Themba in the North West, Galeshewe in Northern Cape and Khayelitsha in the Western Cape.
”Informal settlements affect negatively the programme to render effective policing in such areas.”
Shacks have mushroomed along the main roads where incidents of stone-throwing at passing vehicles occur.
”The N1 Grasmere Toll Plaza near Johannesburg has been targeted recently by criminals who place boulders on that stretch of road to slow down motorists for attack. The perpetrators lie in wait close by and disappear into the nearby informal settlement after the deed.”
He said plans to use the Urban Renewal and Integrated Sustainable Rural Development programmes to build new houses and install street lights in these areas will help lessen the problem.
More than 8 000 entry-level constables and 2 732 administrative staff will be assigned around the country during the current financial year.
Gauteng will receive 1 935 new personnel, the Western Cape 1 590, KwaZulu-Natal 1 227 and the Eastern Cape 1 183.
An allocation of R345-million has also been made available for the construction and completion of new police stations.
Over the next six years the South African National Defence Force will be replaced by police on the borders. During this financial year an additional 5 130 police officers will be assigned to border duty.
”Their work will cover the border with Namibia and Botswana. The affected South African provinces will be the Northern Cape, North West and Limpopo.”
Police will take control on the Lesotho border in the 2006/07 financial year.
Touching on the Firearms Control Act that comes into effect on Thursday, Nqakula said it is a fallacy to think that registered gun owners commit no infractions regarding gun control.
”Many of the illegal firearms in circulation were owned legally once upon a time.”
From January to May this year registered gun owners reported 7 993 guns lost or stolen.
”Stricter gun control measures do not undermine the rights of people to own firearms. They protect the right of people to be safe from firearms abuse and every peace-loving and law-abiding citizen should support such measures,” Nqakula said. — Sapa