SOUTH Africans should not hesitate to phone police commissioner General Bheki Cele on his personal cellphone should they find no joy from any of the country's nearly 200000 police officers.
Speaking during the launch of Operation Duty Call Festive Season Campaign in Ekurhuleni yesterday, Cele urged South Africans who felt let down by the police to contact him directly.
Cele, who was with Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, made this bold declaration to hundreds of Ekurhuleni residents and police officers.
"Our members must respond to complaints in time. If not, they must contact me on 082-900-3569 any time," Cele said, adding - on a lighter note - that he did not want people to contact him in the early hours of the morning to test if the telephone number was working.
"We also request you to be our eyes and ears," Cele said. "You must inform us about criminals in your area because you know them."
Cele said none of his members were expected to take their annual leave in this coming festive season.
"We are going to be every where this festive season. Our duty is to protect and serve the citizens of this country. There are people who think that they will make easy money through crime this festive season, but there will be no space for them."
Police have also launched a Tracking Team employed to trace and arrest wanted suspects.
"There are about 240000 wanted suspects in this country, and many of them are from here in Kathorus (Katlehong, Thokoza and Vosloorus). There is no place to hide for them.
"We are going to place their photographs in newspapers and billboards every where," Cele said.
Mthethwa said citizens were entitled to live in a crime-free environment. "We are here to reaffirm our commitment to reducing crime in every corner of our country.
"It is our duty to take action against criminals who harass, kill and steal from the poor as well as the rich.
"Firstly, the battle against crime cannot be separated from the war on want. Secondly, the activities of a few rotten apples in our midst should not be allowed to tempt us to subtract from the human rights of society, the majority of whom are responsible law-abiding citizens," said Mthethwa.
He said about 300 corrupt police officers had been arrested this year.
Need help? call General Cele directly
SOUTH Africans should not hesitate to phone police commissioner General Bheki Cele on his personal cellphone should they find no joy from any of the country's nearly 200000 police officers.
Speaking during the launch of Operation Duty Call Festive Season Campaign in Ekurhuleni yesterday, Cele urged South Africans who felt let down by the police to contact him directly.
Cele, who was with Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, made this bold declaration to hundreds of Ekurhuleni residents and police officers.
"Our members must respond to complaints in time. If not, they must contact me on 082-900-3569 any time," Cele said, adding - on a lighter note - that he did not want people to contact him in the early hours of the morning to test if the telephone number was working.
"We also request you to be our eyes and ears," Cele said. "You must inform us about criminals in your area because you know them."
Cele said none of his members were expected to take their annual leave in this coming festive season.
"We are going to be every where this festive season. Our duty is to protect and serve the citizens of this country. There are people who think that they will make easy money through crime this festive season, but there will be no space for them."
Police have also launched a Tracking Team employed to trace and arrest wanted suspects.
"There are about 240000 wanted suspects in this country, and many of them are from here in Kathorus (Katlehong, Thokoza and Vosloorus). There is no place to hide for them.
"We are going to place their photographs in newspapers and billboards every where," Cele said.
Mthethwa said citizens were entitled to live in a crime-free environment. "We are here to reaffirm our commitment to reducing crime in every corner of our country.
"It is our duty to take action against criminals who harass, kill and steal from the poor as well as the rich.
"Firstly, the battle against crime cannot be separated from the war on want. Secondly, the activities of a few rotten apples in our midst should not be allowed to tempt us to subtract from the human rights of society, the majority of whom are responsible law-abiding citizens," said Mthethwa.
He said about 300 corrupt police officers had been arrested this year.
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