HALF of all crimes in South Africa happen in Gauteng. Now national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega has given the provincial police management a month to come up with solutions to change this statistic.
Phiyega visited the Gauteng police head office yesterday as part of her national interaction with provincial departments.
Provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Mzwandile Petros said Gauteng was grappling mostly with three crimes: house robberies, car hijackings and business robberies.
"The figure of 50% of crime happening in Gauteng can be reduced," Petros said.
But he said that there had been a marked improvement compared to when he took over in 2010.
"Gauteng used to have 25 hijackings a day. That has been reduced to about 16 hijackings a day. But it is not just about police numbers. We need people to actually feel that they are safe," Petros said.
He identified drugs, particularly the manufacturing of drugs, as another focus area for provincial police.
"We thought Cape Town was the capital of drugs . but they actually come from Gauteng," Petros said.
Phiyega said it was unacceptable that on average a police officer has died every 10 days she has been in office, bringing the figure to six dead policemen.
Many others have been shot and stabbed while performing their duties.
"This is serious cannibalism. These are the resources we need to keep our country safe.
"We need society to come to the table because the people who kill our officers are our brothers, fathers, nephews, and daughters," Phiyega said.
Phiyega adopts firm stance on crime
HALF of all crimes in South Africa happen in Gauteng. Now national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega has given the provincial police management a month to come up with solutions to change this statistic.
Phiyega visited the Gauteng police head office yesterday as part of her national interaction with provincial departments.
Provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Mzwandile Petros said Gauteng was grappling mostly with three crimes: house robberies, car hijackings and business robberies.
"The figure of 50% of crime happening in Gauteng can be reduced," Petros said.
But he said that there had been a marked improvement compared to when he took over in 2010.
"Gauteng used to have 25 hijackings a day. That has been reduced to about 16 hijackings a day. But it is not just about police numbers. We need people to actually feel that they are safe," Petros said.
He identified drugs, particularly the manufacturing of drugs, as another focus area for provincial police.
"We thought Cape Town was the capital of drugs . but they actually come from Gauteng," Petros said.
Phiyega said it was unacceptable that on average a police officer has died every 10 days she has been in office, bringing the figure to six dead policemen.
Many others have been shot and stabbed while performing their duties.
"This is serious cannibalism. These are the resources we need to keep our country safe.
"We need society to come to the table because the people who kill our officers are our brothers, fathers, nephews, and daughters," Phiyega said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos