Cabinet has called on South Africans to continue to work with law enforcement agencies by reporting illegal acts to help keep criminals off the streets. 'The fight against crime is a shared responsibility, and government will continue to champion all initiatives that will mobilise all people in society to work together towards a better and safer South Africa,' acting Minister in The Presidency, Maropene Ramokgopa, said during a post-cabinet media briefing on Thursday. The public can report criminal activities to the police on 10111. Consistent with the commitments made by President Ramaphosa during his Opening of Parliament Address on 18 July 2024 to build a safer country, Ramokgopa said South Africa's law-enforcement agencies have stepped up the fight against crime. Some successes of law enforcement include the arrest of 673 suspects by the Hawks. Of the 573 arrested, 506 were convicted and 77 court orders were granted for the seizure of assets connected to criminal activities. The police also arrested 14 422 suspects for various crimes through Operation Shanela from 19 to 25 August 2024. 'A multidisciplinary raid operation by the police, metro police, correctional services, Home Affairs and other law-enforcement agencies in six hijacked buildings in Durban led to the discovery of R4 million in counterfeit United States dollars, seizure of drugs, 117 rounds of ammunition and liquor, and [the] arrest of more than 150 allegedly undocumented foreign nationals. 'These successes follow significant inroads made in dismantling a transnational crime syndicate in the country since the beginning of the year. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) has uncovered 10 clandestine drug laboratories and arrested 34 persons for manufacturing, dealing and possession of illicit drugs,' Ramokgopa highlighted. Extortion incidents Ramokgopa also noted that South Africa is learning from international best practices to develop strategies to deal decisively with incidents of extortion. She said a whole-of-soci ety approach and a unified effort from government, law-enforcement agencies, businesses and communities are needed to create a united front to combat this crime. 'Extortion does not just harm individuals; it undermines our entire economy. By fighting this crime, we are protecting jobs, encouraging investment, and promoting economic growth. We are empowering communities to stand up against extortion through education, support networks, and confidential reporting systems. We are making it safer for people to say no to criminals. 'The SAPS is being equipped with the latest tools and techniques to combat extortion, including advanced intelligence gathering and specialised task forces, to staying ahead of criminal tactics. Extortion often thrives where there is a lack of economic opportunity,' Ramokgopa said. The Minister added that government is addressing root causes by investing in education, job creation, and community development alongside law enforcement efforts. 'Government is working closely with inter national partners to share intelligence, track criminal networks and bring offenders to justice. Our efforts are particularly focused on protecting vulnerable individuals and businesses who are often the primary targets of extortion. 'No one should have to live in fear in their own community. Government is committed to a sustained, long-term effort to root out this crime and create lasting safety and security for all South Africans,' Ramokgopa said. Source: South African Government News Agency