The Safer Festive launch saw police in the Free State receive more than 40 new vehicles to improve the SAPS services.

Community Safety, Roads, and Transport MEC Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae handed over 44 vehicles destined for various districts at the Bronville stadium in Welkom on Wednesday (29/11). Xhariep District received seven cars, Lejweleputswa ten, Fezile Dabi six, and Thabo Mofutsnyana 14, while Mangaung Metro received ten.

The province received more than a hundred police vehicles in August last year as part of Operation Phethisa Molao led by Minister Bheki Cele and former Premier Sisi Ntombela. However, concerns continue to be raised over the shortage of fleet leading to poor services by police.

DA Shadow Minister of Police Andrew Whitfield disclosed that up to 26% of visible policing and 23% of detectives’ vehicles in certain provinces are inoperable, leaving victims of crime stranded and vulnerable.

Letsoha-Mathae emphasised the importance of strengthening, deepening, and maintaining good police-community relations beyond the festive season. She applauded SAPS members and leadership for responding swiftly … to a recent cash-in-transit heist in Bloemfontein.

Police Provincial Commissioner Baile Motwenyane also boasted about the arrest of five suspects who were apprehended in Vredefort while planning a cash-in-transit in Durban. AK47s, R4s, and explosives were recovered.

“The Free State never had those incidents before and we are not going to allow it. I am happy because men and women in blue managed to nail them down,” he said.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi                     Daphné