The South African Police Service in Mpumalanga has strengthened its resources ahead of the busy Easter period with the handover of 128 new vehicles and equipment to support policing operations across the province.

The vehicles were officially handed over by Acting Provincial Commissioner Zeph Mkhwanazi during a ceremony attended by the MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, as well as other dignitaries.

According to police, the vehicles and additional resources for Victim Friendly Facilities will be distributed to various police stations and specialised units across the province.

Authorities say the new resources will help intensify operations and increase police visibility on highways, shopping malls, transportation hubs and other crime hotspots during the Easter holidays and beyond.

Addressing officers during the handover, Mkhwanazi urged police members to use the vehicles responsibly and warned against any misuse of state resources.

“The vehicles we hand over must not be misused. They are instruments for crime prevention, crime investigation and essential service delivery,” he said.

Mkhwanazi emphasised that the police would not tolerate a culture where resources meant to protect communities are used for personal gain.

“We do not want to hear of SAPS vehicles being handed over today only to be involved in accidents where one would find such cars damaged beyond repair. This is not merely negligence; it is a failure of duty that we cannot tolerate,” he added.

He further called on officers to maintain and manage the vehicles effectively to ensure they remain ready to serve communities whenever needed.

Police believe the additional resources will play a key role in strengthening crime prevention efforts and ensuring residents and travellers feel safe during the Easter travel period.