By Jacobs Botha
The South African Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, has welcomed the arrest of 53 527 suspects by the South African Police Services’ (SAPS) in the last one month, saying the act was a demonstration that that the fight against crime was on the right track.
“The Ministry of Police is encouraged with the level of response that has been meted out to ruthless criminals across the country,” the Minister said on Saturday during a media briefing in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.
The suspects were arrested through the SAPS Operation Shanela which targets violent crimes that include murder, rape, kidnappings and extortion related crimes.
More than 430 illegal and unlicensed firearms which include handguns and rifles have been seized in the last four weeks alone.
The majority of these firearms were seized in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
“The interception of large consignment of drugs and the arrest of drug traffickers by police does indicate to us that intelligence is on the ground and our men and women in blue remain vigilant and ready to deal decisively with all forms of criminality in all parts of our country.
“In two months, at the country’s largest airport, OR Tambo International Airport, which is used as a gateway to Africa, police have arrested 10 drug traffickers and seized more than R13 million worth of drugs, which was mostly cocaine.
Tackling extortion
“The crime of extortion remains a thorn in the flesh for our communities and we have heard our communities’ cries – we have previously made it clear, that we are fetching each of these extortionists and will ensure they answer for [the] crimes committed,” the Minister said.
He said the incidents of extortion reported to the police was a situation that would not be tolerated.
“We therefore as the Police Ministry support this bold and decisive approach that has been adopted by our men and women in blue. This is a clear demonstration that we remain resolute to defend our communities. Indeed – these extortionists days are numbered!
“Just this week alone, police arrested six [extortionists] in Gauteng. The six had just forcefully collected R42 000 from foreign shop owners in and around Soshanguve and Akasia in Tshwane. Police intercepted them and confiscated all these monies that were taken from hardworking individuals,” the Minister said.
Two known extortionists were also shot and killed in Mthatha, which is about a six-hour drive from where the pair was found with an undisclosed amount of money and two unlicensed firearms.
At least 20 extortionists were shot and killed during confrontation with the men and women in blue in the last month.
Cooperation agreement
The Police Ministry has spent the last two days in the Eastern Cape with the aim of strengthening its working relations with all spheres of government, but most importantly with communities.
“These community engagements come off the back of the signing of the cooperation agreement between the South African Police Service, the Provincial Government and the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, which aims to ensure that all spheres of government jointly address crime challenges plaguing our communities.
“These cooperation agreements aim to strengthen and sharpen our response in preventing and combatting serious and violent crime.
“It is important to note that our goal is to arrest and bring perpetrators of crime before various courts to answer to crimes committed. But, when our men and women in blue find themselves in a situation that requires them to act… they will act and use force proportional to the threat,” the Minister said.
He urged police to continue to assert the authority of the state for the benefit of communities.
“Communities have no one to look up to for their safety – but the men and women in blue. We will leave no stone unturned in solving cases and hunting down perpetrators.
“We continue to urge communities to work closely with police in sharing information and providing tip-offs to ensure that collectively, we create safer communities,” the Minister said.
