Extra cop officers drafted in to patrol Nyanga crime hot spots

IN RENEWED efforts to curb sex crimes, domestic violence and robberies in crime-ridden Nyanga 102 police officers have been dispatched to the area for the festive season.

The members, who recently graduated, will be on duty in the Cape Town township’s crime hot spots.

The recruits will serve the Nyanga cluster policing precinct until the end of the holidays.

The officers will be divided into groups and attend to incidents of domestic violence, serious violent crimes including hijackings and robberies, raids of illegal shebeens, and checking on tavern compliance.

Cluster commander Major-General Moses Memela said the community would benefit from the deployment of the extra police officers.

“Nyanga is known as the murder capital [ of South Africa] and our main aim is to fight crime and protect the communities.”

Memela said his office had visited several communities in Nyanga.

“The community is happy because our members will be visible everywhere to protect their lives and property,” he said.

“The officers will also be involved in mounting roadblocks and stop- and- search operations.

“We urge residents to work with our members and report any wrongdoing.”

Nyanga Community Poli- cing Forum ( CPF) chairman Martin Makasi said the community should welcome the extra help. “The CPF is grateful for the deployment. Let’s clamp down on criminality so that we enjoy a happy Christmas together. We can help protect ourselves and our property against criminals” said Makasi.

The communities of known crime hot spots in Brown’s Farm, Lusaka and Samora Machel said they welcomed the police presence in their neighbourhoods.

Nokuphumla Mkibe, 54, of Lusaka said: “We are delighted, this will help bring peace during the holiday period.

“Police visibility scares criminals.

“We hope the police will now patrol our streets 24 hours a day,” she said.

PICTURE: SUPPLIED Some of the 102 new police recruits to be deployed in Nyanga for the festive season.