Crimes that have decreased in Level 3

Speaking in a recent eNCA interview, police minister Bheki Cele said that there had been a notable decrease in crime in several areas during lockdown Level 3.

These include:

• Cash-in-transit heists;
• Bank robberies; and
• House robberies.

However, gender-based violence is currently a major concern; he highlighted the fact that more than 38 000 women were raped in South Africa last year.

He called on community members to report any abuse or violent behaviour before a crime is committed.

Lockdown measures

Cele said operations by the SAPS would be intensified during the country’s national state of disaster.

Specific measures include:

• The conducting of static roadblocks on all national routes and major routes in order to monitor, control and ensure adherence to the regulations;
• The conducting of vehicle checkpoints, on provincial routes, regional routes, rail routes, main streets in order to monitor, control and ensure adherence to the regulations;
• The conducting of high visibility patrols to monitor, control and ensure adherence to the regulations;
• Designated investigation capacity and case management; and
• Implementation of objects of policing, in accordance with S 205(3) of the constitution of the Republic of South Africa.