Latest news with #DepartmentofCommunitySafetyandLiaison


The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
KwaMakhutha gets mobile police station
KWAMAKHUTHA is one of four areas in KwaZulu-Natal that have been equipped with mobile police stations as part of an ongoing initiative to bolster resources in the fight against crime. Also read: Premier condemns gruesome murder near KwaMakhutha KZN Premier Thami Ntuli, who also serves as the province's MEC for the Department of Community Safety and Liaison, officially handed over new mobile units at a ceremony in Mayville on August 6. KwaMakhutha, Inanda, Bulwer, and KwaMbomambi have been identified as crime hotspots, and the newly deployed mobile satellite police stations are expected to play a strategic role in enhancing police visibility and accessibility in these areas. The KwaMakhutha policing precinct covers a large area and has long been affected by persistent violent crimes, many of which remain unsolved. Each mobile unit, valued at R1.7m, is fully equipped with a holding cell, a toilet, an office, and a kitchenette. Ntuli said the rollout of mobile stations was a direct response to concerns raised by community members who cited the lack of nearby police infrastructure, which often forced them to travel long distances to seek assistance. Also read: Learners killed in KwaMakhutha 'We want to see measurable crime prevention interventions in our province to ensure that we defeat the scourge of crime. We are working around the clock to establish functional community safety structures in our province to augment the work of law enforcement agencies,' said Ntuli. He noted that last year, the department handed over 36 vehicles to the police to close the gap created by resource shortages. Ntuli also appealed to the private sector to support voluntary community crime-fighting structures financially to help intensify the fight against crime. For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.


The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
KwaZulu-Natal rolls out mobile police stations to fight crime
In a move to ramp up the fight against crime, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has handed over four state-of-the-art mobile police stations – a strategic R6 million investment aimed at restoring safety in high-crime areas across the province. This landmark initiative is part of the Department of Community Safety and Liaison's ongoing efforts to enhance police visibility, boost response capacity, and deliver measurable crime prevention outcomes in known hotspot areas. The mobile units will be stationed in Inanda, Mbonambi, Bulwer, and Makhutha – areas that have consistently reported high levels of criminal activity. The mobile units were handed over this week to the police stations by Ntuli, in his capacity as the executive authority for the department of Community Safety and Liaison 'We want to see crime prevention interventions that yield real, measurable results. These mobile police stations will close the gap in service delivery and help restore community confidence in law enforcement,' Ntuli said. Equipped with modern operational technology, the mobile units will serve as fully functional on-site police contact point, allowing community members to report crimes, access essential police services, and engage directly with South African Police Service (SAPS) officers – all within their own neighbourhoods. The handover of mobile stations follows the department's 2024 fleet investment, which saw the delivery of 36 new patrol vehicles to the SAPS to address persistent challenges related to the shortage of crime-fighting resources in rural and high-density communities. 'We are working around the clock to ensure that community safety structures are operational, resourced, and active in supporting the work of SAPS. It is only through this integrated approach that we will turn the tide against crime,' Ntuli said. The Premier also called on the private sector to partner with government by providing financial and material support to voluntary crime-fighting structures like neighbourhood watches, street committees, and community policing forums. 'These brave men and women are on the frontlines every day. With more funding and training, they can do even more to safeguard our streets and support law enforcement efforts,' he said. The rollout of mobile police stations forms part of a growing portfolio of proactive safety interventions by the provincial government to build safer, more secure, and resilient communities throughout KwaZulu-Natal. The Department of Community Safety and Liaison reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships between communities, SAPS, and other key stakeholders to foster a safer KwaZulu-Natal. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.


The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
KZN unveils R6 million mobile police stations to tackle crime in these hotspots
Ntuli also urged businesses to partner with the government in bolstering community-based safety initiatives. KwaZulu-Natal has rolled out four state-of-the-art mobile police stations in a R6 million initiative aimed at boosting police visibility and tackling crime in some of the province's most dangerous areas. Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli handed over the mobile units this week to the South African Police Service (Saps) in his capacity as the executive authority for the Department of Community Safety and Liaison. The units will be deployed to Inanda, Mbonambi, Bulwer, and Makhutha, areas that consistently report high levels of criminal activity. 'We want to see crime prevention interventions that yield real, measurable results. These mobile police stations will close the gap in service delivery and help restore community confidence in law enforcement,' Ntuli said. Fully equipped on-site police points Fitted with modern operational technology, the mobile stations will serve as fully functional on-site police contact points. Residents will be able to report crime, access essential police services, and engage directly with Saps officers without having to travel far from their neighbourhoods. The rollout follows the department's 2024 investment in 36 new patrol vehicles to help overcome shortages of crime-fighting resources, particularly in rural and densely populated areas. 'We are working around the clock to ensure that community safety structures are operational, resourced, and active in supporting the work of Saps. It is only through this integrated approach that we will turn the tide against crime,' Ntuli said. ALSO READ: EMPD and Saps officers to appear in court for corruption and theft Call for private sector support Ntuli also urged businesses to partner with the government in bolstering community-based safety initiatives. 'These brave men and women are on the frontlines every day. With more funding and training, they can do even more to safeguard our streets and support law enforcement efforts,' he said, referring to neighbourhood watches, street committees, and community policing forums. The Department of Community Safety and Liaison said the mobile stations form part of a growing portfolio of proactive safety interventions designed to create safer, more secure, and resilient communities across KwaZulu-Natal. It reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships between communities, Saps, and other key stakeholders to combat crime effectively. NOW READ: SA, Lesotho police chiefs meet over reports of military land-grab plans by foreign nationals

IOL News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
KZN Premier addresses cross-border crime at Kosi Bay Border Post
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli conducted an inspection at the Kosi Bay border to view cross-border security measures recently. Image: KZN Government KwaZulu-Natal's border zone of Kosi Bay has been plagued by vehicle hijackings, cross-border smuggling, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and the illegal movement of goods and persons. These were the sentiments shared by KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli during an oversight visit to the Kosi Bay Border Post, a key point of entry between South Africa and Mozambique last week. Ntuli is also the Executive Authority for the Department of Community Safety and Liaison in the province. His delegation inspected Border Gates 6 and 8, in collaboration with the Border Management Authority (BMA). He stated that Kosi Bay remained a key point of vulnerability, as criminal syndicates operated across the border, and that his department had taken steps to enhance integrated border management and improve inter-agency coordination. Ntuli stated that the Kosi Bay inspection was part of the provincial government's Safety Turnaround Strategy, which is a multi-sectoral approach to tackling crime hotspots, enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement, and improving coordination between government entities in high-risk areas. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ During the inspection, Ntuli was accompanied by Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa, the KZN MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development. Both held direct engagements with frontline officers, including the SAPS, South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops, and BMA officials. The team evaluated existing infrastructure, patrol operations, surveillance systems, and identified areas requiring urgent attention. Madlopha-Mthethwa called for improved collaboration across all levels of government. 'Cross-border crime not only threatens community safety, but also undermines economic development and regional cooperation. This visit sends a clear message that KwaZulu-Natal will not be a haven for criminal operations,' she said. The delegation acknowledged the tireless work of local community safety structures that mainly operated under difficult conditions to protect their communities from criminal syndicates. 'These community structures are the true heroes. They risk their lives to safeguard others, and it is our responsibility to support and empower them,' Ntuli said. During the visit, Thembinkosi Khumalo, mayor of the uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality, handed over a surveillance drone to be used by the BMA, SAPS, and community crime-fighting forums. Said Ntuli: 'This drone will significantly enhance aerial patrol capabilities and allow for real-time monitoring of vulnerable border zones.'

IOL News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
KZN government enhances border security with drone donation to combat crime
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli conducted an inspection at the Kosi Bay border to view cross-border security measures recently. Image: KZN Government KwaZulu-Natal's border zone of Kosi Bay has been plagued by vehicle hijackings, cross-border smuggling, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and the illegal movement of goods and persons. These were the sentiments shared by KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli during an oversight visit to the Kosi Bay Border Post, a key point of entry between South Africa and Mozambique on Thursday. Ntuli is also the Executive Authority for the Department of Community Safety and Liaison in the province. His delegation inspected Border Gates 6 and 8, in collaboration with the Border Management Authority (BMA). He stated that Kosi Bay remains a key point of vulnerability for criminal syndicates operating across the border, and that his department was taking steps to enhance integrated border management and improve inter-agency coordination. Ntuli lamented that the Kosi Bay inspection is part of the provincial government's Safety Turnaround Strategy, which is a multi-sectoral approach to tackling crime hotspots, enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement, and improving coordination between government entities in high-risk areas. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading During the inspection, Ntuli was accompanied by Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa, the KZN MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development. Both held direct engagements with frontline officers, including the SAPS, South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops, and BMA officials. The team evaluated existing infrastructure, patrol operations, and surveillance systems, and identified areas requiring urgent attention. Madlopha-Mthethwa called for improved collaboration across all levels of government. 'Cross-border crime not only threatens community safety, but also undermines economic development and regional cooperation. This visit sends a clear message that KwaZulu-Natal will not be a haven for criminal operations,' she said. The delegation acknowledged the tireless work of local community safety structures, many of whom operate under difficult conditions to protect their communities from criminal syndicates. 'These community structures are the true heroes. They risk their lives to safeguard others, and it is our responsibility to support and empower them,' Ntuli said. During the visit, Thembinkosi Khumalo, mayor of the uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality, handed over a surveillance drone to be used by the BMA, SAPS, and community crime-fighting forums. Said Ntuli: 'This drone will significantly enhance aerial patrol capabilities and allow for real-time monitoring of vulnerable border zones.'