The Police Ministry, has urged members of the South African Police Service to act decisively whenever confronted by criminals and not compromise their safety.
According to the National Crime Statistics of the 2020/2021 financial year, 80 officers of the SAPS were killed on and off duty. Seventeen of those members were killed in the Eastern Cape; the second highest figure after the KwaZulu-Natal province which accounts for 21 police murders.
The Safer Festive Season Inspection Tour got underway on Tuesday, 21 December 2021 in the Eastern Cape. Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele together with the Deputy Minister of Police Cassel Mathale, National Commissioner Gen Khehla Sitole and SAPS senior management visited Mthatha to assess the operational plan the province has in place for the holiday season. During the holiday season, the province attracts thousands of visitors.
While addressing a police parade of officers who will, saturate areas where crime is most likely to occur, Cele warned of the desperation some criminals may have who won’t hesitate to end a life of a police officer, in pursuit of what they want.
“Police officers, you are the country’s assets, you are useful to the country when you are alive and well. I’m making a call to all of you this festive season, while enforcing the law, protect yourself as stipulated by the law. Simply put, when confronted by gun-toting criminals don’t hesitate, because when a criminal pulls out a gun on you, the only thing that will follow after, is you getting shot and possibly getting killed.”
As the Eastern Cape Province prepares for more visitors in the run up to Christmas Day, the SAPS has vowed to clamp down on violent crimes including sexual assaults, especially as many cases of rape and sexual violence occur during social gatherings and other festivities associated with the holiday season. According to the latest National Crime statistics for the 2020/2021 financial year, reporting period, the Lusikisiki police station has recorded the second highest rape cases in the country, after the Inanda station in KZN.
The Ministry is concerned that a minor has been arrested for a series of rapes in Mdantsane. The 14 -year-old boy faces seven counts of rape, with the first case dating back to 2019 when the youngster was only 12-year-old.
It is on that score that all operational members of the SAPS are instructed to prioritise Gender Based Crimes and constantly improve their services to rape survivors. A call has also been made for all officers to ensure police stations are not centres of secondary victimisation for victims of GBV.
The eight instalment of the Safer Festive Season Inspection Tour moves to the Northern Cape on Wednesday and heads to KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday.
