Operational deployments are being matched to crime trends analysis to curb the spate of violent attacks.National police commissioner Gen Sehlahle Fannie Masemola says tighter enforcement of the Firearms Control Act, the national and provincial Liquor Acts, and the Second Hand Goods Act, as well as a strategic mounting of roadblocks, will lead to the reduction of serious crime in the country.
As proof of their new intentions he announced that in July 1,173 illegal firearms and 7,738 rounds of live ammunition were confiscated countrywide. The majority, 1,035 of these, were confiscated in Gauteng. “The past weekends have been marred by shooting incidents that have resulted in multiple murders and injuries in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng mostly. With the analysis of this emerging crime pattern, provincial commissioners are mobilising maximum resources towards preventing more such incidents and apprehending the perpetrators.”22,320 suspects were arrested across the country in July.
All provinces are now conducting simultaneous blitz operations with high visibility and combat operations throughout the weekend. He said this type of police work needed to be employed to each victim of gender-based violence and femicide.