Top cop visits malls to check on rookies
THE Eastern Cape’s top cop, Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga, visited several shopping malls in Port Elizabeth yesterday to ensure that the recently deployed rookies were at their posts.
Ntshinga’s visit comes only a day after 142 police graduates were stationed at shopping malls in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro in an attempt to strengthen security over the festive season.
At the NU4 Shopping Centre in Motherwell, detectives were manning a helpdesk for people who wanted to follow up on the progress of their cases.
Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said it was the only stall of its kind in the province.
“The response to this was amazing and, when word got out, people actually came to the [shopping] centre just to use this facility,” Beetge said.
“While there, we put up sketches and photographs of the six most wanted criminals in the Motherwell Cluster.”
Beetge said the six, who were wanted for a series of serious crimes including murder, hijacking and armed robbery, had been on the run for months.
Several shoppers recognised three of the men and supplied leads on their whereabouts. “This information is being followed up,” he said.
While police were on patrol in the centre, a toddler began to follow them.
“Sergeant Rudi Williams noticed a three- to four-year-old following them around the centre.
“He was lost. Efforts to locate the child’s parents failed so he was taken to a place of safety until his next of kin are found,” he said.
The 142 new constables are part of a group of 570 who have been sent to the Eastern Cape, with 40 being deployed in Graaff-Reinet, 278 in East London and 110 in Mthatha.
Ntshinga also visited the Greenacres and Cleary Park shopping centres, Baywest Mall and the Cleary Park taxi rank.
Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said: “The response from the community was overwhelming, with most welcoming the presence of police at the malls.
“Commuters were appreciative that top police management took to the streets to ensure the people of this metro feel safe during this festive season.”