National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has sent a strong warning to local Mamelodi-based criminal bandits Boko Haram that they as the police will deal with them just like they dealt with their original leader Vusi Khekhe Mathibela, who is now in prison and serving a lenghthy sentence.
“One of our priorities is to put an end to the scourge of extortion and we are aware that one of the first extortionists in the country is Vusi Khekhe, who comes from here in Mamelodi and though we have arrested him, there are those who have taken over from him regarding extortion activities, so help us to take them out as well,” he said.
“We are determined to make sure that you live free and not in fear, and that those who threaten you and collect money from you are dealt with by the police, and so please tell us who those extortionists are, so that we can deal with them because we can’t tolerate a situation where you are forced to pay for something that you are not supposed to pay for,” said Masemola.
“People of Mamelodi, you will work with the police, let’s clean up Mamelodi, let’s clean out those who make your life to be like hell in Mamelodi and those criminals who are said to be carrying guns we will deal with them, we are not afraid of them as we have been trained to carry guns and we will deal with them and win at the end of the day as we always win,” he said.
Masemola said all this at the launch of the SAPS 2024/2025 National Safer Festive Season Operation at Moretele Park, Mamelodi West on Friday.
Masemola listed the following matters as areas of focus for the police:
Focus area1.Fight against GBV and also protect vulnerable groups like the elderly and the LGBTQ community.
Focus area 2: Combatting crimes like carjackings, house and business robberies.
Focus area 3: Ennhancing border security to fight against human trafficking and to also confiscate drugs.
Focus area 4: Stop the illicit economy like illegal mining, illicit goods.
Focus area 5: Enforce legislation regarding firearms, liquor, second-hand goods and protecting people at recreational facilities.
Focus area 6: Crackdown on extortionists, which is a crime that is rife these days in the country.
Focus area 7: Prevent damage to infrastructure including power stations.
Focus area 8: Enforcement of by-laws by working together with Metro Police and Traffic police including hijacked buildings and ensuring that businesses operate with a permit.
Focus area 9. Road safety with intent to especially stop drunken driving and violation of trafficking laws.
“From now until 31 January we will embark on a campaign for heightened police visibility across the country and citizens can expect to see visible law-enforcement disrupting criminal activities in their areas,” said Masemola.
Local Ward Councillor Joel Masilela said the launch of the SAPS Safer Festive Season campaign was a welcome development as people of Mamelodi no longer want to hear the sound of guns and expressed appreciation for the SAPS efforts to reduce crime in the community.
National CPF chairperson Miss F Lucas expressed unwavering support for the festive season safety campaign, pointing out that over the past weeks and months police have taken decisive action countrywide against those who thought they could terrorise communities.
Tshwane Metro Police Department Chief Farro warned criminals that the TMPD has arrived and will pursue them relentlessly.
“To the community out there I say don’t harbour criminals but work with us,” she said.
A Home Affairs immigration officer said all undocumented foreigners must leave the country and appealed to the community to report all undocumented people living in their yards.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said car registration plates would be changed in Gauteng in order to curb car theft.
“Tsotsis must now dance to the tune of the police and police must not dance to the tune of the tsotsis,” said Lesufi as he expressed support for the police to go all out and fight against criminals.
Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu dispelled suggestions that police are not phsically fit and emphasised that they are actually super fit and ready to fight crime.
Mchunu pointed out that the police are essentially the hope of the society and that even Ministers and President Cyril Ramaphosa respect them.
CEO of Beer Association of South Africa Charlene Louw said the following:
“We want all South Africans to drink responsibly and not abuse alcohol so that they can come back home safely after the festive season.”.
“I’m so happy to see Minister of police in Mamelodi with the whole management and i pray that crime will go down and the gangster they will deal with them,” said John Nkadimeng.
“All we want in Mamelodi is for the Minister of police and all law enforcement to get together and get rid of all the gangster that is terrorising people of Mamelodi,” said Lucia Machaba.