Cape Town – More than 3 000 newly recruited Crime Prevention Wardens are expected to hit the streets of Gauteng this week, following their pass-out parade over the weekend.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi launched the new crime-busting unit on Sunday at Giant Stadium in Soshanguve Pretoria, and he declared war on crime in the province.
The crime prevention wardens will be placed in crime hot spots.
They will patrol the streets while working with other law enforcement agencies to arrest criminals.
Lesufi believes the newly recruited officers –aided by high-performing vehicles, CCTV cameras and panic buttons for residents – will ensure the province is safe and that criminals are brought to book.
Fighting crime through technology such as helicopters, CCTVs, high performance cars, e panic buttons etc. #WarOnCrime #BootsOnTheGround pic.twitter.com/bMy365bHsG
— GP Department of Community Safety (@GP_CommSafety) April 30, 2023
The premier said this month they will connect suburbs, townships, businesses, schools and other public places with hi-tech face- and car-recognition CCTV.
“We will arm our residents with panic buttons that will be linked to our law enforcement agencies. These panic buttons will also be linked to our CCTVs and our new state-of-the-art in terms of the integrated command centre. Whenever they feel threatened, every resident will press the button, and it will register at the office of our law enforcement agencies,” said Lesufi.
MEC of Community Safety Faith Mazibuko said the provincial government has spent about R450 million on the Crime Prevention Wardens programme, reported EWN.
“We have spent almost R450 million. It’s for cars, accommodation, transport, uniform … as much as there’s other important things like the premier was indicating, like the type of calibre of tools of trade that we have to give them,” said Mazibuko.
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Picture: Twitter/@GP_CommSafety
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
