Clamping down on prisoners with cellphones to stop hits, boosting specialist resources to deal with gender-based violence and criminal gangs and getting city surveillance cameras working again.
These are among the items on police minister Senzo Mchunu's to-do list which he unveiled as part of a provincial festive season launch in Inanda, north of Durban, on Thursday.
He was accompanied by his deputy Cassel Mathale, national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola and his provincial counterpart Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
“Prisons need to be shut down and be crime-free zones. Inmates should not be able to get in touch with people who are outside. Not to mention the planning of criminal offences. It’s unacceptable a person sitting inside prison is able to use a cellphone and law enforcement do not prevent them from doing this. In some cases murder hits are ordered in prisons,” said Mchunu.
The police ministry has identified eight key focus areas to deal with the rise in crime. They include gender-based-violence, aggravated robberies, extortion, protection of critical infrastructure, the illicit economy, road safety, secondhand goods sales and border security.
“We can’t be burying police officers like how we have been doing. We are fighting crime and criminals,” said Mchunu.
He was concerned uMlazi was still recording high numbers of murders, while areas such as KwaMashu, Phoenix and Inanda are close behind.
“With Inanda it’s a melting pot of bloodshed. Year in and year out. Now is the time for us to start cleaning Inanda,” said Mchunu.
“In uMlazi there are people who do as they please. They are known and have names and surnames. There are ring leaders who are at the forefront of murders. Why should we leave them?” said Mchunu.
He said the police were clamping down on criminals in Gauteng referring to the arrest of seven men linked to a jewellery shop heist at Clearwater Mall in Roodepoort.
Mchunu counts working with private security, business against crime and modern technology as important aspects of clamping down on crime, and urged city mayor Cyril Xaba to resolve the issue of defunct surveillance cameras.
“I am told these cameras have been earmarked for disasters. The biggest disaster is crime. Cameras should be working daily,” said Mchunu.
According to Mchunu, at least 42% of crime in the province comes from the eThekwini metro.
“These cameras should be in all places because people are saying they do not feel safe. We should see people and arrest criminals. Those who resist arrest should be dealt with,” said Mchunu.
On the scourge of gender-based violence, Mchunu said couples should find a way to resolve their domestic disputes.
“Those who do not heed our calls should be warned, we will round them up,” said Mchunu.
Premier Thami Ntuli said it was concerning that KZN was among the provinces where murder, rape and robbery are high.
He said the festive season campaign had been launched earlier than usual to accommodate 16 days of activism against women and children.
Ntuli said the province was recruiting of 173 law enforcement officials to be deployed at various police stations to curb incidents of GBV.
They will also appoint 50 people to assist policemen with administrative duties.
“Police should not be bogged down with this and be distracted by long lines at stations,” said Ntuli.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.