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On behalf of all operational members of the South African Police Service, I would like to thank the members of our communities for their cooperation with the SAPS during the various operations we have held during the course of this year.

The understanding and patience displayed by the majority of motorists during roadblocks - and residents during cordon-and-search operations - has been remarkable. The people of South Africa obviously realise that, although inconvenient and time-consuming, these operations are conducted to make their environments safer to travel through and to reside in.

While the holiday season is a period of relaxation and happiness, previous years have shown that there is also an increase in crimes such as housebreaking, domestic violence, armed robberies and cash-in-transit heists. There is also an alarming increase in vehicle-related offences, including culpable homicides through vehicle collisions.

It is against this backdrop that the South African Police Service has launched its crime combating operations which started on 1 December and will continue deep into January 2002.

Various operations, which form part of Operation Crackdown, have been carried out since the beginning of the festive season and significant successes have already been achieved.

A total of 931 roadblocks have been held throughout the country between 1 and 11 December 2001. In the course of these operations 4 465 persons were arrested for priority crimes which include assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, bank robbery, vehicle hijacking, murder, rape and robbery of cash in transit.

A total of 249 stolen and hijacked motor vehicles have been recovered to date and 357 unlicensed and illegal weapons have been confiscated.

This is a sterling effort during the course of only 11 days and operations will gather momentum closer to Christmas and New Year.

Although the safety and security of our people rests squarely on the shoulders of the South African Police Service, I must once again call upon all communities to be aware of their own security and to take the necessary basic precautions in safeguarding their families and property.

I also make a call from the heart on parents to care for their children and always be aware of their whereabouts and with whom they are associating. One of the most shocking factors of physical and sexual abuse of children is that it is usually committed by persons known or related to the child.

Lastly, I would like to publicly thank the police officers of this country, many of whom will be working long hours - especially over Christmas and New Year - whilst most people are on vacation. I am proud of the many successes they have achieved during 2001 and I am looking forward to even bigger and better successes in the fight against crime during 2002.

Contact:
Director Sally de Beer 082 809 2232
Snr. Supt. Selby Bokaba 082 808 3871

Issued by: Office of the National Commissioner of SAPS, 13 December 2001