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25 May 2012

South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga has identified seven crime hotspots areas that will be installed with CCTV cameras from the financial year 2012/13 to 2014/15. This was revealed by Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe during the presentation of the policy and budget speech for his department at the legislature yesterday, 24 May 2012.

According to the MEC, the cameras will be installed at Bushbuckridge, Hazyview, Pienaar, Kabokweni, Tonga, Vosman and Witbank. The MEC explained that the cameras will be linked with the War Room situated in the Nelspruit Command Centre where the footage will be analysed and it will not only be used to prevent crime, but also assist detectives to arrest criminals.

He added that the long term goal is to have all ports of entries in the province also linked to the war room to monitor the movement of people and goods at the borders. As part of enhancing border security, The MEC said that a meeting would be held with his Mozambican and Swaziland counterparts to among others discuss rhino poaching, road safety and other border security related matters.

He also said that his department will continue mobilising the communities together with the police because failure to do so will result in discontentment among communities regarding crime. MEC Shongwe also told the Legislature that as part of enhancing tourism safety, the department will enlist 538 Tourist Safety Monitors (TSM) as follows: 290 in Ehlanzeni Region, 130 in Gert Sibande and 118 in Nkangala Region. Deployment of TSMs at identified tourist hotspots assists in ensuring both local and foreign visitors to the province are and feel safe. The project also assists with alleviating youth unemployment as it targets of school youth.

As part of enhancing rural safety, the MEC said the department will not only hold paralegal workshops and awareness campaigns but it will also coordinate inter-governmental mobile services to the farming communities. Shongwe also highlighted the need to revisit 16 Days of Activism For No Violence Against Women and Children in order to determine whether the campaign is making any meaningful impact on the communities.

The R803 704 000 budget for the department for the financial year 2012/13 has been allocated as follows:

1. Programme1: Administration: R79 406 000
    
2. Programme 2: Civilian Oversight: R10 139 000
    
3. Programme 3: Crime Prevention and Community Police Relations: R39 067 000
    
4. Programme 4: Transport Regulations: R328 286 000
    
5. Programme 5: Security Management: R346 806 000

Enquiries:
Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 4055
Cell: 082 678 1450

Issued by: Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison
25 May 2012

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