Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
PRESS STATEMENT ON TOP-LEVEL GAUTENG MEETING ON MEASURES TO COMBAT CRIME
Ms Jessie Duarte, MEC for Safety and Security in Gauteng, will meet with the Provincial Commissioner of Police, General Sharma Maharaj, and all area commissioners at 12 noon on October 24 at the Provincial Commissioner's office in Johannesburg.
Ms Duarte has asked each area commissioner to provide details of actions in progress to combat crime. "Operational action against criminals is the responsibility of our Provincial Commissioner and his management team," Ms Duarte points out.
In June, at a similar meeting, flash points were identified and action plans outlined by the Provincial Commissioner. Now areas not previously identified have emerged as flash points.
"I want to see visible policing," Ms Duarte stresses. "We agreed with the Provincial Commissioner in June that road blocks would continue to mounted in all flashpoint areas. Operation Safety was incorporated into the Community Safety Plan. However, we must take harsher actions now to rid our society of the scourge of hijackers."
Ms Duarte is urging members of the crime intelligence service to make all relevant information available to uniformed members of the service and to the detective branch so that it can be used practically to effect arrests. "Hijackers are evil and have lost their humanity. We need a united front to oppose them. There is political will to eradicate crime. Now we need action from our policing service."
Ms Duarte welcomes the recent announcement by Minister of Safety and Security Sydney Mufamadi that Cabinet is to be approached to lift the maratorium on filling police vacancies in Gauteng (and KwaZulu-Natal).
According to Ms Karenza Millard, MPL and special adviser to the MEC, tomorrow's meeting is likely to take a tough tone. "We will be asking the generals to provide detailed plans for action and clarity on how resources are to be allocated to deal with all flashpoints."
Ms Duarte will raise the issues of attacks on medical doctors and the increase in rape and child abuse. She will also propose that General Maharaj solicit the support of the air wing of the SANDF throughout Gauteng, not only in specific areas.
23 October 1995
Released by the Gauteng Communications Directorate on behalf of the Gauteng Ministry for Safety and Security
Queries: Karenza Millard Tel: 083 375 8485