October 29, 2003
By Thomas Thale
THE Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) on Wednesday launched a new, elite unit to tackle serious crimes such as hijackings, narcotics and theft.
The unit has been issued with a new fleet of 30 slick Golf 4s.
Headed by the feisty Inspector Angie Mokasi, the only female member of the team, the Special Patrol Bravo Unit will work closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to deal with serious and violent crime.
"This is one hell of a challenge," Mokasi admits, "But I'll face it head on." Mokasi joined the Soweto Traffic Department in 1995 and worked her way up the ranks.
Members of the unit have undergone a rigorous Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) course. The six-months course included an advanced driving course, arms handling and house penetration.
Recruited from the Special Patrol Unit Alfa, which uses double cabs, members of the unit represent Joburg's finest. "They are men with the least accident records, a high level of discipline and our best marksmen," raved Gerrie Gernecke, operations director of the JMPD.
The JMPD has been conducting joint exercises and operations with the SAPS, some times using Oryx helicopters. The new unit will work closely with the Organised Crime Unit of the SAPS in sharing intelligence and undertaking joint operations. "We need to identify crime patterns and target hotspots," says Gernecke
Derrick Masoek, the JMPD's director of operations and programmes, described the new unit as "pioneering and equipped to tackle serious crime". Masoek said the JMPD is upgrading the skills of its members in anticipation of a change in legislation, which will allow Metro officers to perform some of the tasks traditionally performed by the South African Police Service. At the moment, the duties of the JMPD are limited to traffic policing, by-law enforcement and crime prevention.
Gernecke revealed that members of the unit would leave for Thabazimbi shortly, to spend time training at the Special Forces School.
The new vehicles increase the fleet of the JMPD to 580, said Vincent Manda, JMPD's fleet manager.
The vehicles used by the JMPD are leased from Fleet Africa under a strict contract which provides for vehicles to be on the road for two years or until they reach 120 000 kilometres, whichever comes first.
"These vehicles will increase our visibility and improve our mobility, and the availability and reliability of our cars," Manda said.
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