Minister leads anti-crime drive in KZN
Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko arrived at Jozini northern KwaZulu-Natal to lead a massive anti-crime campaign involving the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) on Thursday.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Sandile Ngidi said Nhleko is in the area as part of ongoing work by the country’s police agencies to meaningfully respond to community complaints about rampant crime in that part of the province bordering Swaziland and Mozambique.
The minister is accompanied by the Hawks head Major General Berning Ntlemeza and the acting KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Bhekinkosi Langa.
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Nhleko said people in the Mkhanyakude police cluster, comprising areas such as Jozini, Hlabisa, Mkhuze, Sodwana Bay have been calling for Sterner police action to help address various acts of criminality that threaten their livelihoods and sense of order and peace.
“I am pleased that today a combined operation lead by Major General Ntlemeza of the DPCI and Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Langa is here to reassure our people about this government’s commitment to fight crime. I have been in the area several times this year and I am confident that we are making a difference in the quest to free all citizens from the scourge of crime.”
According to Ngidi at least 200 officers have been deployed on the ground for the operation in the Mkhanyakude police cluster. The units include, special using in stock theft, crime intelligence, commercial crime and public order policing.
Nhleko will later be at Charlestown near Newcastle on the SA-Swaziland border and on Friday he will be in Mpumalanga to continue with the festive season anti-crime drive.