In a significant move towards bolstering community safety and empowering local policing initiatives, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube on Tuesday (7 November 2023) handed over 95 vehicles and 2000 uniforms to Community Policing Forums (CPFs.) The initiative aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and reach of community-led safety measures, signifies a vital step in supporting grassroots security efforts.
Dube-Ncube said the uniforms would assist the community policing forums to be visible when doing their work and the vehicles would assist them to be mobile in their fight against crime. The handover took place during the launch of the integrated festive season and safety month plan at Mpumalanga Stadium, in Hammarsdale near Durban.
The premier was accompanied by Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Sipho Hlomuka and eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda.
The theme for this year’s safety month is, “Leaving no one behind in our journey of building a crime-free KwaZulu-Natal”.
“As we kick-start this Integrated Festive Safety Season programme, we want to say that in line with our theme, we will leave no one behind in our fight for a crime-free KZN,” she said.
Additionally, she said 3 105 suspects were arrested for contact crimes, 191 for murder, 135 for attempted murder and 246 for cases of rape. She said 208 suspects were arrested in relation to cases of robberies, including house and business robberies, carjacking as well as robbery with aggravating circumstances.
“These efforts resulted in the recovery of 286 firearms, 21 of which were rifles. 4 761 rounds of ammunition were confiscated. On October 18 an intelligence-driven operation resulted in the discovery of 200 blocks of cocaine with an estimated value of R70 million hidden in 20-litre paint containers at the Durban Harbour. On October 27, police announced a major breakthrough in Inanda, when three suspects wanted in connection with multiple murders were nabbed at KwaMashu Clinic,” said Dube-Ncube.
Mabutho Mtshali, the chairperson of the CPF board in the province, said, “We are so overwhelmed; we always are in desperate need for such resources.
“These vehicles will enable us to be able to work efficiently in protecting our communities.”
He said the provincial government should be applauded for the support it has shown the CPF bodies.
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