SPEAKER NOTES FOR GAUTENG OVERSIGHT VISIT, GEN FANNIE MASEMOLA

Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Cassel Mathale
All Deputy National Commissioners present
The Provincial Commissioner of the province and his leadership team
All key stakeholders
Members of the media

A very good morning/afternoon

We are entering the peak of the festive season and as the men and women in blue we are also heightening our safer festive operations…

Our goal is to get a grip on serious and violent crime.

We are employing various policing interventions and strategies throughout the country to keep our communities safe this festive period.

Ladies and gentlemen these oversight visits form part of a decision to ensure that all those living within our borders are and feel safe and their properties are protected during the holiday season and beyond.

Since the start of the festive season operations on 13 October 2025, in Gauteng alone, 26 744 suspects have been  arrested for various crimes ranging from murder, hijackings and kidnappings.

We have also during this busy period seized 185 illegal and unlicensed firearms in Gauteng alone 2 422 rounds of ammunition have also been seized during these operations.

141 vehicles that were either stolen or hijacked have also been recovered.

105 million millilitres of alchohol that was sold illegally has also been seized.

A total of 3 665 illegal taverns and shebeens have been shut down and 6 641 suspects have been arrested for selling liquor illegally since the start of our safer festive operations in this province.

We have had a number of shootings and brutal killings in this province, I have received an update on each case and I’m confident that police are on the right track to find those that are behind the Saulsville shooting, the murder of Marius Van Der Merwe, the killing of Dj Warras and the killing of other residents in Gauteng. It’s a matter of time, before police take down those responsible for these murders.

I urge the people of Gauteng to work closely with all law enforcement agencies in this province to ensure a safe and peaceful festive season.

To our law enforcement officers, don’t die with a firearm in your hands, we have given you tools to defend yourselves and the communities that you serve and when you have to defend the citizens of Gauteng , don’t hesitate to act, but remember to act within the confines of the law.

With that said, Deputy Minister we are handing over 162 newly purchased vehicles to serve and protect the people of Gauteng. These vehicles are behind handed over to various stations including Alexandra, Diepsloot, Eldorado Park, Midrand, Tembisa, Atteridgeville  to mention but a few. To those stations, take care of the vehicles, and only use them for work purposes.

I am also pleased to announce that since February 2025, we have deployed 1125 newly trained Constable’s to the province to bolster crime combatting efforts in this province and we will continue to prioritize this province when it comes to capacitation and resourcing of stations.

With this said , we wish the people of Gauteng a safe,  secure and peaceful festive season.

I thank you