Date: 15/12/2005
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Mhlahlo: Festive season message
Message for the 2005/06 Festive Season, from Mr Thobile Mhlahlo, MEC for Provincial Safety Liaison, Roads and Transport
The 2005/06 festive season has arrived and marks the end of our first year of the second decade of our freedom. It is in this decade that all South Africans are expected to make decisive and visible advances with regard to the improvement of the quality of life of all our people, affecting many critical areas of social existence, including safety, security and social cohesion. This period further presents its own challenges for all the people of the Eastern Cape Province as we are expected to join hands in a patriotic quest to ensure that there is Peace, Security and Comfort in our society.
Our law enforcement agencies have already started their role of rooting out all elements that undermine our existence. We have already achieved tremendous successes through “Operation Sting”, which is currently being conducted in the Port Elizabeth Area. This operation will continue for the whole festive season. The aim of the operation is to intensify our crime prevention activities in the Nelson Mandela Bay, particularly in the Northern Areas, where drug dealing is prevalent, and in the Central and Walmer Areas. The operation has been further extended to include New Brighton, Motherwell and KwaZakhele, where a number of armed robberies have taken place. Since the start of the operation on 1 December 2005, 454 people have been arrested of which 154 for serious offences such as murder, rape, burglary, robbery, theft and housebreaking.
Twenty-eight illegal immigrants were arrested. Eight-hundred and nine fines were issued of which 793 for traffic offences. A number of goods were confiscated, including 20 cell phones, 50 kg of abalone, 178 knives, 920kg of dagga, 118 dagga plants, 213 mandrax tablets, 20g of ecstasy, 70g of cocaine, 1 rock of crack, 143g of TIK, 20 vehicles, 11 handguns, 1 rifle, 46 rounds of ammunition and 60 magazines. This is a start of hard-core policing operations, which will be conducted all over the province in an effort to create a peaceful and stable environment in defence of law-abiding citizens.
We will increase the general visibility of all law enforcement agencies over the festive season through ensuring maximum deployment of both physical and human resources. However, our first decade of democracy has taught us that crime is not only the police problem, but communities should play a role. This necessitates the building of a social contract between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and communities in order to realise our objectives. The New Year has its own challenges that would require the strengthening of the relationship between our law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
Last year we have seen a visible community involvement in our day to day work; community policing forums (CPFs), Churches, businesses and communities at large. Let us continue to create a safe and secure environment conducive for growth and socio-economic development in support of the Provincial Growth and Development Plan, through the collective implementation of social crime prevention strategies. Everyone’s contribution will count and I am confident that we do have the potential to achieve our goal of building a South Africa that truly belongs to all. I would like to wish all the people of the Eastern Cape and visitors, a safe and secure festive season and a prosperous new year.
Issued by: Department of Provincial Safety Liaison, Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
15 December 2005
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Mhlahlo: Festive season message
Message for the 2005/06 Festive Season, from Mr Thobile Mhlahlo, MEC for Provincial Safety Liaison, Roads and Transport
The 2005/06 festive season has arrived and marks the end of our first year of the second decade of our freedom. It is in this decade that all South Africans are expected to make decisive and visible advances with regard to the improvement of the quality of life of all our people, affecting many critical areas of social existence, including safety, security and social cohesion. This period further presents its own challenges for all the people of the Eastern Cape Province as we are expected to join hands in a patriotic quest to ensure that there is Peace, Security and Comfort in our society.
Our law enforcement agencies have already started their role of rooting out all elements that undermine our existence. We have already achieved tremendous successes through “Operation Sting”, which is currently being conducted in the Port Elizabeth Area. This operation will continue for the whole festive season. The aim of the operation is to intensify our crime prevention activities in the Nelson Mandela Bay, particularly in the Northern Areas, where drug dealing is prevalent, and in the Central and Walmer Areas. The operation has been further extended to include New Brighton, Motherwell and KwaZakhele, where a number of armed robberies have taken place. Since the start of the operation on 1 December 2005, 454 people have been arrested of which 154 for serious offences such as murder, rape, burglary, robbery, theft and housebreaking.
Twenty-eight illegal immigrants were arrested. Eight-hundred and nine fines were issued of which 793 for traffic offences. A number of goods were confiscated, including 20 cell phones, 50 kg of abalone, 178 knives, 920kg of dagga, 118 dagga plants, 213 mandrax tablets, 20g of ecstasy, 70g of cocaine, 1 rock of crack, 143g of TIK, 20 vehicles, 11 handguns, 1 rifle, 46 rounds of ammunition and 60 magazines. This is a start of hard-core policing operations, which will be conducted all over the province in an effort to create a peaceful and stable environment in defence of law-abiding citizens.
We will increase the general visibility of all law enforcement agencies over the festive season through ensuring maximum deployment of both physical and human resources. However, our first decade of democracy has taught us that crime is not only the police problem, but communities should play a role. This necessitates the building of a social contract between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and communities in order to realise our objectives. The New Year has its own challenges that would require the strengthening of the relationship between our law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
Last year we have seen a visible community involvement in our day to day work; community policing forums (CPFs), Churches, businesses and communities at large. Let us continue to create a safe and secure environment conducive for growth and socio-economic development in support of the Provincial Growth and Development Plan, through the collective implementation of social crime prevention strategies. Everyone’s contribution will count and I am confident that we do have the potential to achieve our goal of building a South Africa that truly belongs to all. I would like to wish all the people of the Eastern Cape and visitors, a safe and secure festive season and a prosperous new year.
Issued by: Department of Provincial Safety Liaison, Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
15 December 2005
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