Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
Gauteng Premier, Mbhazima Shilowa and MEC for Safety and Liaison, Nomvula Mokonyane met with the Provincial Commissioner of Police, Sharma Maharaj this morning in Johannesburg.
The meeting follows the announcement by the Premier on Monday 28 June 1999 that he would be meeting with the Provincial Commissioner to receive a briefing on the crime situation in the province and measures in place to deal with it.
The Commissioner briefed the Premier and the MEC on the situation regarding various types of crime in Gauteng and infored them about various measures in place to bring down the levels of crime.
The Commissioner reported about the plans of the South African Police Service in Gauteng to drastically reduce the circulation of illegal firearms and deal more effectively with firearms related crimes and other serious crimes.
The Commissioner also reported that there is greater co-operation, co-ordination on strategy formulation and implementation between the uniform police and crime intelligence division, which has resulted in more successes insolving serious crimes in the province.
The Commissioner indicated that the SAPS in Gauteng would continue to pay special attention to serious crimes such as Women abuse, Child abuse, car hijacking, cash in transit heists and illegal firearms.
The Premier was satisfied that the Provincial Commissioner and the SAPS in Gauteng are working very hard together with communities and the citizens of Gauteng in general to combat crime and make the province safer.
The Premier will also meet with the top police management structures in the province.
The Premier pledged his, and the rest of the Executive Council's active support to the work of the MEC for Safety and Liaison, the Provincial Commissioner and the entire Police Service in combating crime in the province. Commissioner Sharma Maharaj will be invited to attend the next meeting of the Executive Council to brief the rest of the MEC on measures to combat crime.
Both the Premier, the MEC for Safety and Liaison and the Provincial Commissioner agreed to meet regularly to asses progress in the implementation of the National Crime Prevention Strategy.
Issued by Office of the Premier - Gauteng
For Inquiries contact Thabo Masebe at 082 551 4945
30 June 1999