March 28, 2003
By Thomas Thale
THE past year has seen a marked increase in the visibility of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), resulting in a noticeable decrease in criminal activity across the city.
This was said by Chris Ngcobo, chief of the JMPD, on Friday at a ceremony held at the Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown to mark the second anniversary of the Metro police.
Equestrian unit
"We have changed the face of policing in South Africa. We are now acknowledged to be the masters of visible policing," Ngcobo said. He vowed that the JMPD would intensify its campaign to collect traffic fines owed to the city.
"In 2000, the city collected R6-million in outstanding fines. Last year, we increased that amount to more than R140-million. Our target this year is to reach the R200-million mark," said Ngcobo.
Guests at the function were treated to an awesome display of military-style drills and song as Joburg's finest paraded in unison. The JMPD choir was also at hand to entertain guests with their rhythmic songs.
Speaking at the same function, Nomvula Mokonyane, Gauteng MEC for safety and liaison paid tribute to the JMPD, describing them as "custodians of safety and order in the city. You have made life difficult for criminals and your work has made Joburg a safe and prosperous city, where people can walk freely without fear".
The JMPD was established in 2001 to enforce by-laws, prevent crime and to police traffic in the city.
Ngcobo announced that the city has allocated an amount of R5,5-million for the procurement of new firearms for metro officers.
Cornel Mackay, JMPD spokesman, said the increased manpower and resources allocated to the metro police had enabled the force to saturate identified hotspots with police. Through its "Operation Nude Ants", Mackay continued, the JMPD had cleared the city of undesirable elements.
"We have put an end to uncoordinated illegal street trading, clearing pavements and Street traders are now confined to designated areas and markets. Our campaign to remove illegal scrapyards, abandoned vehicles and to clear public open spaces in places such as Meadowlands, Orlando West and Noordgesig is begin to bear fruit," said Mackay.
Over the past year, Mackay said, about 70 officers have been investigated for corruption and some were found guilty and dismissed.
According to Mackay, the JMPD now has 1 800 uniformed officers, who are divided into 27 specialised units, including canine, equestrian, foot patrol, freeway patrol, precinct patrol, recovery and zonal policing units, plus 11 regional teams.
Here's what The Star newspaper said about Metro Police, in its editorial on Friday 28 March:
When the Johannesburg Metro Police department was set up in March 2001, this newspaper came out strongly in support of the initiative. We welcomed the fact that the overstretched and understaffed SA Police Service would be augmented in its fight against crime, and that the city police force would offer a local salvo against growing lawlessness. We still hold this view.
Since its introduction, the council force has heightened visible policing on our streets and highways. It has taken the war to the hijackers who prey like hyenas on motorists. It has introduced highly successful roadblocks where defaulters who have failed to pay their traffic fines are apprehended and dealt with.
It is also involved in ridding the CBD of unregulated hawking, though it still has a long way to go on that front. In Soweto, illegal businesses operating from shacks have felt the full might of the law.
But, most importantly, the ubiquitous bright vehicles of the Metro Police act as a general deterrent in Johannesburg and satellite residential areas such as Alexandra, Orange Farm, Diepsloot and Soweto.
Here's wishing the force many more years of success in its campaign against lawlessness.
