National Safer Festive Season operations have started on a high note with police in the Western Cape seizing R75 million worth of counterfeit goods and R200 000 in cash from a shopping centre in Bellville, Cape Town.
The counterfeit goods raid, led by the South African Police Service (SAPS), took place on Saturday as SAPS rolled out its nationwide Safer Festive Season operations.
Through heightened visibility, police are intensifying operations to deal decisively with crime. Regular roadblocks, stop and searches, as well as the tracing of wanted suspects are being intensified as the SAPS ushers in the busy festive period.
In the Western Cape, the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele, handed over 36 vehicles to assist police to bolster their crime combatting efforts and heighten visibility in gang-ridden areas, where murders are prevalent.
The SAPS Safer Festive Season operational plan was rolled out on Saturday in all the provinces. The plan will see heightened focus on seven areas, which include gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), combatting of serious and violent crimes such as aggravated robberies, border security, strengthening by-laws, road safety, as well as illegal mining.
“We are not going to co-govern with criminals. We are going toe-to-toe with them. Our priority is the safety and security of all the inhabitants of this country and their property. Police officers are instructed to also sharpen their responses to the most vulnerable in society during the holiday period and beyond,” Cele said.
SAPS has also launched a service rating platform, where members of the public will now be able to rate the service they receive from all police stations across the country.
This online rating platform will allow everyone in South Africa to rate the service they receive at their local police station.
“We encourage all people to rate every single service they receive from us, so that we can have a clear picture of our performance in an effort to enhance our service offering.
“We want to win back the trust of our communities and we can only do so if we deliver and intervene if there are gaps,” said National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola.
The Rate My Service online platform will give an opportunity to members of the public to respond to a predefined questionnaire to rate the SAPS service.
This can be done as and when they interact with SAPS services or at a later stage.
SAPS hopes this project will encourage members of the public to sponsor suggestions for improved service delivery through participating in the online survey.
SAPS management is also encouraging all SAPS members to put more effort in rendering a professional, effective and efficient service at all times that the public deserves.
Source: South African Government News Agency