Central SA
Mangaung to launch festive safety plan, but DA urges more action─── ZENANDE MPAME 15:46 Mon, 24 Nov 2025
Mangaung metro is set to launch a comprehensive safety plan aimed at curbing crime, enhancing law enforcement visibility, and promoting responsible community behaviour soon.
Meanwhile, the opposition in Mangaung has expressed concern about public and road safety as the festive season approaches. It has raised the alarm over growing threats to public and road safety after recent robberies and road accidents in the metro.
The DA warned that crime levels in public spaces, malls, and transport hubs rise during this season while visible policing and municipal safety patrols remain inconsistent, leaving residents vulnerable.
‘Increased police presence will play a vital role in curbing crime’
With traffic volumes expected to surge and crime levels already on the rise, the DA has called on the municipality to deploy additional traffic officers and police across high-risk areas. To also repair road infrastructure, including potholes and traffic lights.
“The municipality’s public safety department will soon announce its official festive safety plan, with visibility remaining a central focus,” said municipal spokesperson Qondile Khedama. “One of the key things we do every year is ensure there’s visibility of our various law enforcement agencies.
“At the moment, almost every key spot has operational cameras. Increased police presence will play a vital role in curbing crime, particularly in high-traffic areas such as the CBD.”
The DA launched a petition to make Mangaung’s roads safe. The petition calls on the municipality to install speed cameras and monitoring systems in high-risk areas, to repair potholes and damaged roads as a matter of urgency, and to restore and maintain reflective signage, among other measures.
A total of 2,700 people have already signed the petition calling on the municipality to make roads safer.
Tips in an emergency
Because of the increased accidents during the festive season, Tracker has tips on what to do in an accident emergency:
- Stop safely: If you witness or arrive first at an accident, switch on your vehicle’s hazard lights and stop in a safe location.
- Make an emergency call: Dial 112, the global emergency number for all cell phones in South Africa.
- Assess the situation: Do not move anybody who is injured unless necessary.
- While waiting for emergency personnel to arrive. Calm and reassure those involved that emergency services are on the way.
• Have a news tip to share? Phone or whatsapp the OFM News Hotline: 066 487 1427.
