SAPS launch Operation Paseka over Easter

The South African Police Service (SAPS) will be heightening its crime-fighting efforts with the launch of ‘Operation Paseka’ over Easter.

This safety campaign has a duel focus of clamping down on opportunistic crime and road safety during this period. The Easter weekend is a peak season when people embark on road trips to annual religious pilgrimages across the country or to visit friends and relatives. Traffic is at a maximum on all national routes and road fatalities peak during this time due to a range of factors. These include reckless and negligent driving, speeding, fatigue, unroadworthy vehicles and driving under the influence of alcohol and other intoxicants. This has necessitated the SAPS, in conjunction with other role players in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster, to launch high visibility operations to safeguard road users and communities.

‘Operation Paseka’ is aimed at reducing serious, violent crimes such as house robberies, vehicle highjackings, business robberies, theft of or out of motor vehicles and stock theft. As part of the operation, the SAPS will be mounting road blocks on all major routes, conducting ‘stop and search’ exercises, patrolling the roads and conducting surprise visits at second hand goods dealers in search of stolen property. Other criminal activities receiving attention will be the possession of illegal firearms and alcohol- and drug-related crimes.

“As part of Operation Paseka, we will be pulling out all the stops to ensure that criminals have nowhere to hide. We have identified an increase in certain categories of crime and our men and women in blue will be out in full force to ensure that these Easter holidays are as safe and crime free as they can be,” says Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega.

General Phiyega appeals to members of the public and to organised business to work with law enforcement agencies by sharing intelligence and information that can assist the police to combat crime. She says: “Our success is largely dependent on the close co-operation we have with members of the public. Reporting crime is a civic duty that each and every South African must take seriously. We are grateful for the support we have received thus far and we urge members of the public to continue to be our eyes and ears so that we can rid our society of the cancer of crime.”

Motorists are urged to observe the rules of the road and to exercise patience and courtesy to fellow road users.