Gauteng police get new set of wheels

Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Police minister Bheki Cele handed over 65 new vehicles to the province’s police commissioner, Elias Mawela on Friday, February 20.

Premier Makhura said the cars are fitted with the latest technology to help fight crime more efficiently. The vehicles are meant to assist police in curbing the trio of high crimes in Gauteng namely; hijackings, cash-in-transit heists and robberies.

He said a further 50 patrol cars will be added, including 12 mobile police stations across the province. About a 100 in total will be donated by Gauteng.

“This is the commitment that I made in February last year to the people of Gauteng,” said Makhura. He indicated to the minister that the provincial government is not responsible for getting resources for the police, as the duty lies with the national sphere of government.

“We as a province are not required, by law to provide such resources. We are not prohibited to do so either. We do this to increase the police visibility in highways and in crime hotspots,” said the premier.

According to Makhura, the province has mapped out all the crime hotspots across Gauteng. Some of the vehicles will be stationed in these areas.

“We are providing police with resources so they can respond,” he said.