South Africa : Strategy to beat aggravated robbery launched

By Bathandwa Mbola

Johannesburg - A plan to eliminate bank-related crimes, house robberies, cash-in-transit heists and hijackings in Gauteng has been launched by Gauteng Premier Paul Mashatile.

The Aggravated Robbery Strategy, which forms part of efforts to beef up anti-crime initiatives in the province, will see law enforcement agencies from all levels of government pooling their resources to strengthen their crime-fighting teeth.

The strategy follows a partnership between the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies, Business Against Crime, the banking sector and community representatives.

The total project is expected to be implemented within the next three months and will cost about R14 million, funded by the banking sector.

To strengthen law enforcement, the province has established a special investigation task team which will be responsible for following up on information and investigating cases that have been opened. The unit will focus on specific groups of suspects.

"We are also strengthening our rapid response teams. This we will do by ensuring that there is better coordination among the various Flying Squad teams and introducing additional teams and vehicles," said Mr Mashatile.

In addition 80 vehicles will be made available by February 2009, to allow rapid response teams to reach crime scenes speedily.

The provincial government has also established an anti-truck hi-jacking unit, which will be deployed in all national and provincial roads within Gauteng. "A total of 20 high powered vehicles and specially trained personnel will be made available to this unit," the premier said.

The strategy will see the implementation of a surveillance system to assist law enforcement operations in high crime areas across Gauteng.

A control and operations room that is directly linked to the Gauteng 10111 Centre will also be established. According to Mr Mashatile, this centre which will assist investigating officers with specialised investigative tools and expertise.

The province will also be increasing the number of patrollers across the province from 3000 to 10000 by March 2009.

"We are doing this in order to give practical meaning to our commitment towards building a crime free Gauteng. Our commitment to building a safer Gauteng has become even stronger," Premier Mashatile said at the launch of the Strategy in Johannesburg on Wednesday. - BuaNews