Police visibility and roadblocks will be stepped up as part of a comprehensive safety strategy for the coming holidays. The provincial Safer Festive Season campaign was officially launched on Friday (17/10) as part of a national initiative to curb crime and promote road safety during the high-travel period.

Acting provincial commissioner Maj. Gen. Patrick Asaneng said law enforcement agencies will adopt a multi-pronged approach targeting road safety, border control, and general crime prevention. The campaign will also focus on communities, highways, railways, and tourist hotspots.

“From 2 to 15 January, it’s all road safety enforcement, border security, and preparations for the announcement of matric results and the celebrations that will follow,” said Asaneng. The final phase will run from 16 to 30 January.

Officers will remain on high alert during school and tertiary registration periods, he added. 

Acting provincial commissioner Maj. Gen. Patrick Asaneng at the North West safer festive season launch. Photo: supplied

The festive season typically brings increased interprovincial travel, often accompanied by a rise in road accidents and criminal activity. Police will therefore intensify roadblocks, stop-and-search operations, and targeted patrols in high-risk areas, Asaneng said.

He officially handed over the master operational plan to the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, reinforcing the police’s commitment to integrated operations that include traffic, rail, and border security.

North West Police demonstration at the safer festive season launch. Photo supplied

Community Safety and Transport Management MEC Wessels Morweng highlighted the need for proactive and intelligence-driven policing this festive season.

“We expect the same vigour and energy shown in last year’s programme,” he said.

“This initiative signals the beginning of the festive season, a time when our economy, particularly tourism, is expected to grow. Criminals will also be planning, but with all the resources we have, government cannot be outsmarted.”

A major focus of this year’s operation will be stock theft, which remains a serious concern in the province’s rural areas. Morweng confirmed that farmers have raised ongoing complaints with the stock theft unit, prompting stronger interventions.

He also commended the police for the recent arrest of three suspected stock theft syndicates.

Key focus areas

North West police said the main priorities of the operation will include:

• Intensified roadblocks and highway patrols
• Border security and anti-smuggling operations
• Rail and public transport safety
• Protection of tourist destinations
• Monitoring of school and university registration periods
• Targeted operations against stock theft and organised syndicates

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh