Police will launch special operations in the coming six months to combat serious and violent crimes, Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula announced on Friday.
”We would bring to the attention of the criminals out there that we’re going to be on their necks, and indicate to the South African public that we would do whatever is necessary for us to provide safety and security for them,” Nqakula vowed.
Extra police will be deployed on the ground to conduct high-visibility police operations, he announced on Friday after a meeting with top police management, provincial safety and security ministers and provincial police commissioners.
Nqakula did not elaborate on the specific operations but National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi promised that ”there will be some dust”.
”Some of the things we are going to do would require the support of the people of our nation,” Nqakula said.
During the six months police will focus on serious and violent crimes including murder, robbery and rape.
There will be heightened police visibility, which would include cordon-and-search operations as well as roadblocks.
Nqakula said the search and confiscation of illegal firearms will be increased because of the role that firearms play.
He called on the public to interact with police while the operations are taking place.
”We would be happy if they could tell us what houses are being used for crime, what streets are the worst streets in terms of crime and so on.
”The people are going see these things we are talking about, they are going to see members of the service, there is going to be visibility,” Nqakula said. — Sapa