Mbombela - Mpumalanga's MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Sibongile Manana says her department and the police are ready to fight crime this festive season.
"We will increase police visibility throughout the province because certain crimes tend to increase during this time of the year, and we will be working jointly with municipalities to mount road blocks all over the province," she said during a media briefing on Thursday.
Manana said their operations were informed by previous experience during the festive season.
"This time we wanted to come up with plans early," she said.
Mpumalanga's Deputy Police Commissioner, Rex Machabi, confirmed that the police would beef up their operations over the festive season and that a quick-reaction flying squad would be introduced to focus mainly on cash-in-transit and bank robberies.
"We will also pay more attention to stolen vehicles and check the roadworthiness of vehicles, and watch ports of entry into the province for illegal immigrants and counterfeit goods. We will be watching pension pay-out points closely," he warned.
Machabi said that last week, 189 people were arrested for transgressions of the Liquor Act, the trading of illegal goods, stock theft and violent crimes.
Regarding security in the province during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Manana said she was confident that the province could handle any situation that may arise.
"But we need to pre-host some soccer games at the stadium to test our readiness," she said.
