Gauteng crime rates are still unacceptably high and the province will continue to implement safety strategies to combat festive-season crime, provincial minister of community safety Firoz Cachalia said on Wednesday.
Briefing the media in Johannesburg on festive-season policing, he said crime-blitz operations, road blocks and searches would be conducted throughout Gauteng.
Combating crime during the festive season could only be done through visible policing, he said.
”To enhance safety, the South African Police Services will work closely with the metropolitan police department and the South African National Defence Force across the province.”
The safety strategy was a result of an increase in serious and social crimes like murder, rape and assault during the festive season, said Cachalia.
”Robberies also tend to increase as criminals take advantage of bumper spending.”
He said Gauteng crime statistics for the period between April and September 2007 revealed that anti-crime initiatives were starting to bear fruit.
”Murder, aggravated robbery and rape have all decreased in Gauteng but other crimes have increased according to national statistics.
”Business robbery continues to increase but at a slower rate compared with national statistics. Truck hijacking has increased significantly.”
Cachalia would give feedback on the festive season safety strategy in January. — Sapa