The South African Police Service (SAPS) is set to intensify compliance inspections at all police stations and service points as part of a broader strategy to enhance service delivery to communities. This was announced by National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola during a media briefing in Johannesburg on Thursday.

“Our responsibility as a police service is to ensure the safety of all people living in South Africa. As SAPS, we will continue to act without fear, favor, or prejudice to achieve this vision,” said Masemola.

Strengthening Crime Prevention

Masemola emphasized that SAPS is at the forefront of the criminal justice system, and the work of its members is crucial to maintaining public confidence. He highlighted the police’s “all hands-on deck” approach, which involves collaboration with law enforcement agencies, government departments, the business sector, community police forums, and private security.

“Communities are at the heart of these efforts. Through increased community participation and tip-offs, criminals are feeling the pressure. In provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape, we are making it harder for criminals to operate,” said Masemola.

He noted that ongoing operations, arrests, and takedowns are sending a clear message to criminals that SAPS is actively working to root out crime. “We believe we are making significant progress in destabilizing organized crime syndicates and other criminal activities,” he added.

Operation Shanela and Results

Since the launch of Operation Shanela, a nationwide crime-fighting initiative, SAPS has arrested 850,375 suspects for crimes ranging from murder and rape to kidnapping and extortion. Over the past four weeks alone, an additional 85,000 arrests have been made. Police have also seized 824 illegal firearms and more than 17,000 rounds of ammunition.

Crackdown on Extortion

Masemola also addressed the issue of extortion, assuring the public that SAPS is committed to eradicating this crime. He revealed that SAPS has developed and implemented an Extortion Action Plan, which has been met with success in hotspot areas.

“We are particularly encouraged by how our officers are tackling extortion across all provinces identified as hotspots. We are acting on tip-offs and information shared through hotlines, and we are tracking down extortionists, one by one,” he said.

In the past two weeks, 14 extortionists were killed during confrontations with police in various provinces. One notable incident occurred in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, where three alleged extortionists followed members of the National Intervention Unit (NIU) to their base after earlier having their firearms confiscated. The extortionists opened fire on the police, who defended themselves and asserted the authority of the state.

Specialized Teams on Extortion

Recognizing the need for specialized expertise to tackle extortion, SAPS has deployed teams led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), crime intelligence, and organized crime units to lead these investigations.

“We are committed to making South Africa safer, and we will continue our efforts to ensure that criminals are brought to justice,” Masemola concluded.