By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu launched the Provincial Integrated Safer Festive Season Campaign in Inanda, Kwazulu-Natal (KZN), which will see more boots on the ground.
The South African Police Service, eThekwini Metro Police, as well as the three spheres of government, have signed a crime prevention cooperation agreement aimed at fighting criminals.
Mchunu highlighted that KZN ranks among the top four provinces in South Africa for criminal activity.
The minister pointed out that 42% of all reported crimes in the province come from the eThekwini metro area.
“It is a fact that the concentration of crime is in eThekwini,” Mchunu said.
He stated that the high crime rates present a significant threat to KZN’s economic future.
“There are crimes that are performed directly to destroy the economy by way of this thing called construction mafias, extortion and direct robberies to business properties.”
According to Mchunu, these crimes have discouraged investment in KZN, ultimately “leaving a field of unemployment” in the province.
“There’s no company that will allow itself to get established here… only to be faced with criminality every day.
“It’s a risk. It’s already happening in some parts of this province where [businesses] think and talk about going away, leaving this province.”
Furthermore, Mchunu emphasised the cooperation agreement would strengthen collaboration between the three spheres of government, ensuring more efficient use of resources, and improved policing.
The agreement will also ensure a stronger fight against crime in KZN’s hotspot areas, including eThekwini and Pietermaritzburg.
The minister stated that residents of KZN support law enforcement taking firm action against criminals.
They want them flushed out in whatever manner. People now don’t care how you flush out as long as they are flushed out,” he continued.
“As long as they [criminals] are said to be on the receiving end from our fight against them, people will be happy all the time and for that reason they want us to be stronger.
“They want us to be much more resolved they want us to be much more confrontation to criminals and ultimately they want us to defeat them.”
KZN police have killed at least 107 criminals in shootouts between July 2023 and July this year.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli says that the campaign included the signing of a cooperation agreement, marking a united commitment by law enforcement, local government, and community stakeholders to bolster crime prevention efforts.
“It was an assurance to those who visit KwaZulu-Natal, during the festive season, even the people who are living in KwaZulu-Natal, that we are on board in terms of ensuring that we provide safety measures to everyone. Hence today, we were launching this Safer Festive Season for KwaZulu-Natal, with not only the police, but even with the private sector like Business Against Crime and even the private securities in the area, the neighbourhood watch, your CPS.”