Police boss plans to take back Johannesburg
Speaking at a meet-and-greet session held at the Indaba Hotel in Fourways on July 15, the commissioner said her leadership would be grounded in action, discipline, and meaningful collaboration. 'As the captain of the ship, I will lead.' She outlined a six-pronged mission that prioritises integrated policing, stronger partnerships, and social impact.
At the core of her mission is a deep belief that: 'Criminals are very few among us,' and that united communities have the power to shift the tide on crime.
She said her first pillar is partnership and collaboration, not only with SAPS and Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), but also with private security, government departments, and the Community Policing Forum (CPF) structures on the ground. 'The crime is happening in the community, which is why we must work with the community.'
Also read: Douglasdale CPF calls for school shoe donations
The second pillar is police visibility and crime reduction. Acknowledging limited personnel, Kubheka called for better resource co-ordination and intelligence-led operations.
Kubheka highlighted the role of crime prevention wardens as a key force multiplier in overcoming police shortages.
Thirdly, she committed to educating officers on the six pillars of the integrated crime and violence prevention strategy, with special emphasis on early intervention among the youth, victim support, and public participation. 'We must plant the seed now to see change in the next generation.'
Other mission points include: tackling hijacked buildings, a known breeding ground for crime, and strengthening the mental health and professional development of officers, especially the incoming recruits.
Also read: Massive rush of enrolments for SAPS training programme
The other focus is on discipline and anti-corruption, which Kubheka sees as essential to rebuilding trust. 'We can't have law enforcement if we are not disciplined and addressing the corruption. Corruption is affecting the discipline. We are losing a lot of members. We are saying we are [dedicated to] the organisation, but we've got a lot of members who are going out the back door because they cannot continue to work with us. They are compromising us.
'Let us remember that effective discipline helps build community trust and maintain the integrity of law enforcement.'
While acknowledging the challenges, Kubheka also pointed to recent success stories, particularly in tackling violent and organised crime. 'We have recorded commendable successes through multidisciplinary operations. These include Operation Shanela 2, Valamgodi, and various high-density operations.'
Also read: SAPS reunites nearly 18 000 missing persons with families in 5 years
Most notably, she highlighted progress in several kidnapping cases, including the breakthrough in the murder case of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek from Fleurhof. 'In June, we managed to solve about six kidnapping cases and reunited victims with their families. We confiscated firearms, drugs, and made arrests in drunk-driving cases.
'Colleagues, we have seen the crime picture improve for the quarter. I am very proud.'
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