By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
Police Minister, General Bheki Cele will on Monday, 13 December 2021, take the annual Safer Festive Season Inspection Tour to the Limpopo province.
The visit forms part of efforts by the South African Police Service, to channel resources to areas where they are most needed, to ensure the police deal decisively with crime during the holiday season.
Under the theme, “_Extending our reach through blue light visibility_” Minister Cele together with the SAPS management team from national and the province led by the Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, will assess the effectiveness of Safer Festive Season plans put in place, to ensure that residents and holidaymakers are and feel safe, during the holiday season.
The minister will also visit the following areas:
Malamulele Police Station
Time: 07:30
Date: 13 December 2021
Thohoyandou, Thavhani Mall
Time: 09:10
Date: 13 December 2021
Beitbridge Border Post
Time: 12:30
Date: 13 December 2021.
On October 15 2021, the South African Police Service launched the National Safer Festive Season Operations.
The annual Safer Festive Season operations are aimed at ensuring the safety of all within the borders of South Africa, over the holiday period.
Cele will inspect these operations as he embarks on an annual inspection tour of the festive season operations by the SAPS in all nine provinces.
The Nationwide _Safer Festive Season Inspection Tour_ will end in KwaZulu-Natal at the end of the year.
Minister Cele, together with the SAPS management team at national and the respective provinces, will assess the effectiveness of the resources channeled to areas where they are most needed, to ensure the police deal decisively with persistent crimes.
The visit forms part of the overall efforts by the South African Police Service, to tighten the grip on contact and violent crimes this festive season.
The tour will focus on visible policing and conducting special crime awareness and prevention operations; targeting crimes prevalent during the festive period, such as: Gender Based Violence and crimes against children, border security, and contravention of road and traffic regulations.
Minister Cele says every safer festive season plan is unique to the province.
“We once again usher in the festive season during a pandemic that has been devastating to our country, during this time, police will continue to ensure maximum compliance of the regulations, to minimize the spread of the virus.
“We know that criminals will try and take advantage of this time that is usually categorized by festivities, social gatherings and leisure.
“While we urge South Africans to remain alert and be aware of their surroundings at all times to avoid being easy targets for criminals, the country’s officers in blue in all provinces will be at hand.”
Cele says their respective safer festive season plans are already in full swing and will be intensified as the year comes to a close.
He said these plans are not a one-size-fits-all, instead the operations are tailored to the needs of the province and are based on their crime situations.
“I am sure the police will give criminals a hard time and squeeze out the space for anyone with criminal intent. ” – concluded Cele.
Cele will also go to the following provinces:
MPUMALANGA_
Date: 14 December 2021
NORTH WEST_
Date: 15 December 2021
GAUTENG_
Date: 16 December 2021
FREE STATE_
Date: 17 December 2021
NORTHERN CAPE_
Date: 18 December 2021
WESTERN CAPE_
Date: 20 December 2021
EASTERN CAPE_
Date: 21 December 2021
KWAZULU-NATAL_
Date: 22 December 2021
The SAPS National Safer Festive Season operations are set to continue until 31st of January 2022.
Pic: Supplied
