More detectives and forensic experts deployed by SAPS to combat serious crime
SAPS has announced the deployment of additional detectives to the 30 highest contact crime stations across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape. This initiative includes 785 new detectives joining the Hawks, along with 675 forensic experts and 300 trainees.
The stations are plagued by high-contact crimes, including murder, attempted murder, rape, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), and assault.
These stations are situated in South Africa’s four most crime-burdened provinces: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape.
The deployment comprises 785 new detectives for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (the Hawks), 675 forensic and crime scene experts currently in training, and 300 crime intelligence operatives also undergoing training.
Last month, IOL News reported that 5,727 murders were recorded between January and March this year.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu confirmed that Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape accounted for the majority of the murders.
The 10 police stations with the highest murder rates were Inanda in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, Delft, Mfuleni, Nyanga and Philippi East in Cape Town, Kwazakele and New Brighton in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape and Umlazi in eThekwini.
Others were Raaifontein in Cape Town and Ivory Park in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.
“We do not deny that levels of crime are high. We are very concerned. Crime cuts across all divides. We are adjusting our methods of fighting crime and adapting to the new trends and threats,” said Mchunu at that time.
Among the 30 worst stations for murder, 13 saw declines, while two remained unchanged.
Firearms were the most commonly used weapons in murders, followed by knives.
Twenty-two police officers were killed during the quarter, six while on duty and 16 off duty, including 10 in Gauteng.
A total of 178,757 suspects were arrested.
Police recorded 4,023 cases of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, which represents a 2.7% increase compared to the same period last year.
He said cops also seized 1,641 illegal firearms and 24,288 rounds of ammunition.
Speaking during an event on Human Resource Management at the SAPS Academy in Pretoria, on Friday, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola said that more than 4,000 new officers will join the detective services this financial year.
“The bulk of detectives are being recruited from newly trained constables currently receiving workplace exposure across various stations,” Masemola said.
“Once they complete their probation, they will be deployed at the grassroots level where crime is reported.”
He said additional detectives will be deployed to the 30 high-contact crime stations, and SAPS will re-enlist former officers who left in good standing.
Masemola said contract-based hiring will include retired and experienced detectives.
He said 300 operatives are undergoing training in the crime intelligence division.
“Upon completion, they will be deployed to enhance intelligence capacity in the provinces,” he said.
Masemola said 675 forensic laboratory analysts and crime scene experts are being trained at the station level and will soon be deployed to Local Criminal Record Centres (LCRC) and the four national forensic labs.
He said the SAPS has also trained and deployed 5,000 public order police officers over the past two years to improve crowd management.
According to him, this has helped in a ”more effective protest response.”
Additionally, 575 newly trained 10111 call centre operators have been deployed to improve emergency response times.
Masemola added that SAPS also filled 150 station commander positions, particularly in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape, to boost productivity and service delivery.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
IOL News