Abide by laws or face might of the law, warns Gauteng premier

WITH the easing of lockdown restrictions and a drop in the lockdown levels, the Gauteng Premier David Makhura has warned the public to abide by the law or face its might.

In a joint operation, Makhura together with the MEC for Community Safety Faith Mazibuko, joined law enforcement officers in a road safety and crime-prevention operation in Soweto yesterday morning.

Operation O Kae Molao set out to ensure that motorists and residents adhered to road regulations.

Makhura applauded the SAPS and Joburg Metro Police Department for their swift response in conducting operations and bringing transgressors to book.

“The province is out of the third wave, and we have lower infection rates and fewer people admitted to hospital. The positivity rate is low, which allows for police to focus on areas with high-crime rates, which are affecting our province and small areas in it,” said Makhura.

“When coronavirus is at its peak, police cannot carry out their duties as they need to carry out other operations in line with Covid-19 regulations. We are concerned about the increase of kidnapping cases for ransoms. All kinds of crimes have increased. Police are back in the streets, and we want to send a message to criminals to tell them that they have nowhere to hide, and they will be brought to book,” said Makhura.

Gauteng police commissioner lieutenant-general Elias Mawela said this operation was phase 2 of their approach to combating crime and that 836 arrests were made and 32 cases were dealt with in the courts this week – 26 have been handed long-term sentences.

The premier also conducted a vaccination door-to-door programme in Dobsonville later, with Joburg mayor Jolidee Matongo and Gauteng Health MEC Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi. This area was also expected to see a new pop-up vaccination site.