Boots on the ground for festive season
Provincial police commissioner launches safety campaign with promises of more police officers on patrol
Despite this year’s police festive safety campaign proudly announcing “more boots on the ground”, no official numbers could be given as to how many police would patrol Eastern Cape streets these holidays.
Provincial transport department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said: “The intention is to have as many officers as possible.
“A lot of our police officers and traffic officers understand that they are an essential service and there is no more important time for them to be available, and not to take leave.
“Some might be on sick or maternity leave, but all those who are available have got to be on the ground.”
The police’s annual safer festive season operations kicked off with clouds of yellow smoke guiding two skydivers to a parade where community safety & transport MEC Xolile Nqatha and hundreds of Mdantsane community members heard promises that police would keep the province safe.
Not mentioned were any specifics or a plan to tackle the rising increase in criminals targeting long-distance buses.
In October, the Makhanda high court ordered transport minister Fikile Mbalula and MEC Xolile Nqatha to meet their legal obligations and ensure the safety of threatened long-haul bus operators and their passengers.
Asked whether the safety plan included long-distance buses, Binqose said: “We don’t have a responsibility to longdistance buses that supersedes the responsibility to a private vehicle, to a truck or any of the vehicles that use our roads ... we will be out in full force to ensure the safety of all those who use our roads.”
DA chief whip Bobby Stevenson said the number of police in the Eastern Cape had seen a steady decline since 2020.
“The December period is normally when crime levels rise.
“This is why you need to maximise the number of police officers on duty, especially in tourist areas.
“Boots on the ground are not going to save us — we need a whole society approach to develop partnerships between police, the community, security companies, municipalities and businesses.”
Stevenson said targeting long-distance buses was causing widespread panic.
“Police have a duty to protect people. Everybody knows longdistance buses are under siege.
“They play a key role, not only in transporting people but in tourism. If you can get away with harassing buses, what will happen to other motorists?
“Police and our MEC have a duty to ensure law and order on our roads.”
On Monday, lined up in formation and surrounded by community leaders and members of various Buffalo City Metro Community Police Forums and emergency services, the police force handed over a memorandum showcasing this year’s safer festive month campaign.
Provincial commissioner Nomthetheleli Mene presented more than 32 new vehicles to district commanders, including six to the Chris Hani district, four to the Sarah Baartman district, six to the Amatole district and 16 to Buffalo City Metro.
Nqatha said: “As government we are encouraging all stakeholders and community members to join hands.
“We are assembled here as we witness the spate of brutal killings and lawlessness in our province.
“People must work tirelessly for active citizenry in exposing criminal activity.
“Let us refrain from politicising crimes by putting different ideologies aside for the reduction of crime.
“Criminals do not fall from the sky. They are our children, our brothers and sisters.
“As parents, we must ask our children, unemployed as they might be, where they get resources to buy new clothes.”
Mene said: “The launch of the safer festive season is no small feat. We all face the challenge of ensuring that we work together to fight crime.
“Let us continue in unison to rid our province of criminal elements.
“I would have failed in the task given to me if I could not pass a special message to the community police forums in the province.
“We appreciate your dedication.”
Earlier this month, the Dispatch reported Mene had decided to dissolve the province’s community policing forums.
At the time, BCM CPF chair Ludumo Salman told the Dispatch that Mene’s “unilateral” decision was an abuse of power.
In response, police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said: “SAPS management has no issues with the CPF as an organisation.
“However, it needs to be understood that police have a responsibility to ensure that all structures of the CPF are properly constituted and functioning well, within the confines of the CPF’S constitution.
“The fact commissioner Mene is giving vehicles to the community is a clear indication that she cares about the safety and security of communities.
“It has nothing to do with other matters.
“This, therefore, provides a clear indication that SAPS management has never had problems with the CPF as an organisation.”