The Minister of Police Bheki Cele has sent a strong warning to anyone who plans to engage in criminal activities this festive season. He was speaking during a walkabout at Menlyn Park Mall in Pretoria as part of the Safety Festive Friday campaign.
Cele was flanked by a large police contingent. He says the police have increased efforts to mitigate the levels of crime this year.
He says several arrests have been made during the walkabout in Pretoria.
The minister urged shoppers to be extra vigilant during this festive season, and assured them that police will keep a watchful eye.
Cele says strong police visibility is key to crime prevention. He greeted and waved at hundreds of shoppers at the Menlyn shopping mall.
“All criminals are invited to have dinner with me. The only problem is when they turn up for that dinner, it will be a very long dinner. I will release them after 2030 after we had the dinner, but they must stop this nonsense and allow our people to live a good life. And we will be acting very hard to anybody that deals with criminal activities. But if you look around we are beginning to push back crime, no cash heist, the killings in KZN, and common crimes, we are beginning to push back.”
Cele visits Marabastad
The police minister also made a stop at a roadblock at Atterbury and Lynnwood Road, east of Pretoria, to speak to motorists.
He also visited the Marabastad taxi rank, where suspects were arrested for the selling of counterfeit goods.
Cele says the fight against crime does not end during the festive season.
“In Marabastad, mostly there are fake goods. As we came in one shop they closed the door on our face. We had to break the door in, and we had to take those people. There is a big stock of fake goods, which really hits on the South African economy, hits on the South African employment.”
The police minister’s presence in the mall excited many shoppers as most of them took the opportunity to raise their concerns about the crime rate in the country.
Most shoppers say they are impressed with the Minister’s performance, but that more still needs to be done.
“But he has tried. I feel safer, especially in Menlyn Park because we really need security here, but I feel safer. So, thank you.”
Mall management happy with minister’s visit
The management of the mall has welcomed the minister’s visit. Mall manager Olive Ndebele says the mall is in a privileged position because of the police minister’s visit.
“We got a very good relationship with the South African Police Services. So, we have been privileged to have the minister visiting the Menlyn Park shopping centre. We also have a South African Police Service contact point here at the Menlyn Park, at the welcome centre. So we understand the impact that visible policing actually does.” –Author- Clement Mahlangu
