Pretoria - Since the start of Operation Duty Calls in October, a total of 690 arrests for serious crimes have been made in the North West, says Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa.
“Out of these, crime suspects were arrested for rape, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and sexual assault. In addition, in last night’s operation, a total of 42 suspects were arrested for serious crimes ranging from eight rapes, 14 assaults, one for attempted murder and one for intimidation,” Mthethwa said on Friday.
All these crimes, he said, were investigated by the Family Violence, Sexual Offences and Child Protection (FCS) unit of Klerksdorp, which has been recognised as the best FCS in the North West for the 2012/13 financial year.
Mthethwa was speaking at the official launch of the North West Duty Calls Festive Season on Friday at Matlosana Stadium in Klerksdorp. Last week, the minister launched the National Duty Calls Festive Season campaign in George, Western Cape.
Mthethwa commended the members of the unit for their selfless dedication to duty, adding that they have made the department proud by securing a total of eight life sentences and cumulative prison sentences of 1 090 years for the 2012/13 financial year.
During this festive season, Mthethwa, who maintains that every South African is entitled to live in safety, free from crime and violence, said police visibility would be intensified.
“There will be concerted programmes and increased police visibility to deal with aggravated robberies, border security, illegal firearms, liquor and Second Hand Goods Act enforcement, by-law enforcements and road safety enforcement. However, our campaign will focus more around crimes against women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly,” he explained.
He also stressed the need for all social partners, including residents of the province, to work with the police to defeat the scourge of crime during the festive season.
“We cannot allow criminals to rule your festive season. We cannot allow criminals to rob you of your all year earnings, which you acquired through legitimate hard work and dedication. This is your sweat and toiling, as such you deserve to enjoy your hard work free from crime.
“But to achieve all this, police cannot do it on their own. They need your support to work together. On a daily basis, we continue to develop and implement plans to reduce crime, with the support and in partnership with all law-abiding citizens of our country.”
Parents must take more responsibility
Mthethwa also challenged parents to play their role, saying that the protection of children must not be seen solely as a policing duty.
“We cannot apportion parenting of children to police. Parents must parent and police will police. If a 10-year-old child is hooked on drugs, we need to begin to question ourselves, where is the parent? When teenagers spend hours on social media, chatting to strangers who promise to look after them, where are the parents?
“When young girls and boys go to taverns for the whole weekend without their parents knowing their whereabouts, should we blame the police? We believe it is about time that we all play our roles in order to tackle some of these challenges.
“Let us therefore strengthen our collective efforts against child abuse, neglect and exploitation,” he said.
Mthethwa said members of society, including children, must work together with law-enforcement agencies in combating abuse, neglect and exploitation of children. – SAnews.gov.za
