Mayor Msimanga launches bicycle unit to combat crime
This is the statement made by the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Solly Msimanga, during the launch of the Tshwane Bicycle Unit in Hatfield. The Executive Mayor was joined by MMC for Community Safety, Alderman Derrick Kissoonduth, and the acting Chief of Metro Police, Jenny Malan. #CoTBicycleUnit
From 13 September 2017, some of the City’s law enforcement officers will be patrolling the streets of Hatfield on bicycles. This is in addition to the other existing transport modes the City is already using to fight crime.
The Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Solly Msimanga, alongside MMC for Community Safety, Alderman Derrick Kissoonduth, and the acting Chief of Metro Police, Jenny Malan, today launched the new bicycle unit, tasked with assisting the fight against crime in the Hatfield area at the City Improvement District offices in Hatfield.
The unit, established within the Tshwane Metro Police Department [TMPD] currently boosts 20 bicycles, for a start, that will be divided in shifts to patrol the area.
With the help of CCTV cameras to be installed in due course, the move is expected to reduce the high number of thefts and robberies prominent in the area.
The launch was attended by representative from nearby businesses who have committed to work with the metro police officers to combat crime that affects the businesses, residents and students in the area.
Mayor Msimanga commended the new unit and recommitted the leaderships’ support to seeing it flourish. “This unit will help boost our crime fighting efforts and restore the image of Hatfield as the safe neighbourhood it used to be”.
“Hatfield is typically dense with students owing to the University of Pretoria hence the high number of robberies and thefts targeted at learners. Surely, we cannot have a situation where our students are condemned to a life of fear and victimisation. The bicycle unit will get all the support and resources needed to make their work a little bit easier.”
“The officers attended a bicycle training course for two weeks where we looked for fitness and explored ways to use the bicycles in different scenarios.” said Kissoonduth.
The new unit is being launched in partnership with the following partners:
- University of Pretoria
- City Property
- Growth Point
- Mid City Property
- Feenstra Group
- Costa Zervas
- Redefine/ Respublica
- Blue Bulls Company
- Abland
DA-led municipalities believe specialist crime prevention units in metros will go a long way to making our communities feel safer.