November 23, 2007
By Emily Visser
INSTEAD of the usual six-week period, Johannesburg metro police department (JMPD) is extending its annual festive season safety clampdown to three months.
The festive season officially kicked off for JMPD officers on 30 October and will only end on the last day of January 2008. And it will be a strong contingent of officers keeping order in the City, with the majority of officers and senior staff members on duty.
Speaking to the media at JMPD headquarters in Martindale on 22 November, Chief of Police Chris Ngcobo outlined the department's plans for what is historically one of the busiest times on police calendars. He sent out a strong message promising zero tolerance and serious penalties for offences, even minor ones. "We want to bring back a culture of respect for the City and its property."
Stepping up
Residents may have noticed that JMPD is stepping up its approach to so-called minor crimes such as reckless, negligent and inconsiderate driving; loitering; littering; urinating in public; drinking in public; and jaywalking. All of these offences may result in a stiff fine, some time behind bars or alternative forms of sentencing, such as community service.
Building up to the festive season, operations had been intensified since the middle of this year, Ngcobo confirmed. In the last three months, 1 200 people were arrested for drunken driving, 206 for reckless and negligent driving, 147 people were served with notices for jaywalking and 600 arrests were made for speeding.
In terms of by-law enforcement, over 60 individuals were fined R500 for urinating in public and 107 for drinking in public, carrying the same fine. Those found guilty of littering can expect to be fined up to R1 000.
Chief superintendent Max Khanyile, Chief of Police, Chris Ngcobo and director of operations, David Tembe give details of the festive season plan of the JMPD
Director of operations at the JMPD, David Tembe, said metro police officers viewed all offences in a serious light and would use their discretionary powers to decide whether an arrest would be made. "We will continue to arrest more people during the festive season," he cautioned.
Serial offenders can expect heavy penalties as fines are seemingly not sufficient deterrents. The JMPD will use its sophisticated mobile connection device, a morpho touch, to scan fingerprints, vehicle registration numbers, firearm serial numbers and identity numbers at road blocks and check points.
Crime prevention operations will also receive a major boost with the activation of the new closed circuit television camera centre at Penmore Tower in downtown Joburg on 1 December. A hundred cameras are deployed at various crime hotspots; another 60 will be installed during December.
Target areas
Taxis and taxi ranks would receive special attention, Ngcobo warned. The JMPD had also identified the 10 most hazardous routes and would have a strong police presence in those. These are the N1 south and north; the N12 east and west; the R511; Impala Road; Beyers Naude Drive; Malibongwe Drive; Old Potchefstroom Road and the Soweto Motorway (Pat Mbatha busway).
Other target areas include smash-and-grab hotspots, parks and public places, the inner city, places of entertainment, liquor outlets and many others. Traditionally also a time when liquor flows in copious amounts, Ngcobo said that though this was the drug of choice for many, it was also one of the biggest contributors to social crime.
"We want to focus on issues affecting people on a local level, what we call local crime."
In addition, five priority police stations would receive additional JMPD staff over the next three months, working jointly with the South African Police Service. These are Honeydew, Booysens, Central, Hillbrow and Moroka.
The JMPD hoped to give residents one of their safest Christmas seasons this year and aimed to reduce road fatalities by 12 percent. In the last three months, 196 people died in motor accidents.
"Our approach aims to create a situation where there are high levels of morality," Ngcobo said.
In addition, metro police officers have also received extensive training in preparation for the festive season - 74 metro police officers have successfully completed a course in advanced safety driving while another 21 have successfully completed a high-performance driving course, providing them with much needed high-speed driving skills.
"Our actions will take place through effective, visible policing by members who are uniformed and in plain clothes."
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