Gauteng police conduct high-visibility operations to enhance festive season safety
The Gauteng Safer Festive Season campaign in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, has combined crime prevention, community engagement, and road safety awareness ahead of the New Year celebrations.
Image: Supplied
Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni, has revealed that law enforcement agencies have effected more than 26,000 arrests as part of the Safer Festive Season campaign across the province.
On Tuesday, Mthombeni, accompanied by his deputy, General Fred Kekana, and Ekurhuleni's Acting Executive Mayor, Ald Jongizizwe Dlabathi, conducted a detailed walkabout at the Golden Walk Mall and Germiston Taxi Rank.
This initiative, which began in October, forms part of the ongoing Safer Festive Season operations aimed at curbing crime while fostering community engagement.
"Since the launch of the Safer Festive Season campaign in October 2025, we have arrested over 26,744 people for crimes including murder, attempted murder, and robbery. We have also arrested people for unlawful possession of firearms. We have been confronted with unlicensed liquor outlets, including mass shootings. We have since closed more than 180 liquor outlets," he said.
The Provincial Commissioner of Gauteng, Lt-Gen Tommy Mthombeni, led the team as they conducted compliance inspections at liquor outlets in Tokoza, Katlehong, and Katlehong North policing precinct on December 30, 2025.
Image: Gauteng Provincial Government / X Account
Mthombeni revealed that the police are making inroads in apprehending those responsible for the two mass shootings in Saulsville and Bekkersdal, where 12 and 10 lives were lost, respectively, early this month.
"We are making inroads in Attridgeville, where one person has been arrested, and five of the 11 suspects linked to the Bekkersdal mass shooting have appeared in court,'' he stated.
Accompanying Mthombeni and Kekana were the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing, Major General Mbuso Khumalo, the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, and Major General Anna Sithole, the District Commissioner for Ekurhuleni, among others.
Their collaborative efforts span various agencies, including senior officials from the Ekurhuleni Metro Police and the Gauteng Traffic, as well as members of the Department of Home Affairs.
During the walkabout, officials engaged shoppers and commuters, sharing important crime prevention tips specific to this busy time of year. Compliance inspections were conducted to ensure that laws are upheld, creating an overall atmosphere of safety and awareness.
"It is our responsibility to ensure that all citizens feel secure, especially during a time when more people are out shopping and celebrating," said General Mthombeni.
Adding a community-focused touch to the initiative, the Provincial Visible Policing team joined forces with various stakeholders, including the Community Police Forum, to host exhibitions at the mall. Visitors were allowed to participate in the 'Coffee with a Cop' initiative, where they could engage informally with officers while receiving safety tips through pamphlets distributed by the team.
Meanwhile, speaking during a stop-and-search operation at De Hoek Toll Plaza, spokesperson for the Gauteng premier, Elijah Mhlanga, urged motorists to obey the rules of the road as traffic volumes are set to intensify ahead of New Year's Eve travel.
"We urge motorists to be aware of their surroundings on the road. We urge those who are travelling long distances to rest every one to two hours. We also urge them not to drive under the influence as this impacts their ability to make the right decisions," he added.
On Tuesday, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said this year's campaign is about saving lives and making sure public transport is reliable following operations across three cities, including Tshwane, Johannesburg, and Ekurhuleni.
"Our law enforcement agencies handed out infringement notices for various wrongs, focusing on public transport checks. They found 187 minibuses without licence discs, 193 drivers without valid licences, and stopped 65 minibuses from running due to safety issues. These numbers show a real effort to clean up the roads," the MEC stated.