Crime Line manager Yusuf Abramjee was awarded the security personality of the year award by the Security Association of South Africa (Sasa), Primedia said in a statement on Saturday.
Crime Line is Primedia’s anonymous SMS tip-off service, endorsed by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Abramjee said Primedia appreciated the ”acknowledgement and support from the security industry”.
”The partnership between Primedia, the public and the SAPS is working well and the large number of tip-offs is an indication that people are fed-up with crime.
”They are speaking-up,” he said.
The initiative has led to the arrests of 160 suspected criminals and the seizure of R13,5-million of stolen property, drugs and counterfeit goods since its launch in June.
Sasa president Jenny Reid said the initiative was making a ”real difference in the fight against crime”.
Countries, including the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Singapore were looking at emulating the South African initiative and introducing SMS tip-offs to combat crime.
”We will be at the International Crime Stoppers world conference in Bermuda in November to share the South African experience,” Abramjee said. – Sapa