Eastern Cape South African Police Service (SAPS) Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, has officially unveiled Operation Sikhona, a five-year plan towards crime reduction in the province.
The operation was launched at Lusikisiki Police Station on Friday, April 8.
Lusikisiki is dubbed the ‘rape capital’ of the country, as it is the area with the most reported rape cases according to the latest crime statistics.
Mene said Operation Sikhona would drive all provincial operations, programmes, and activities, to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of the Eastern Cape.
“The plan is to identify the crime hotspots, and add more foot soldiers within the hotspots using all the disciplines at our disposal within the police service.
“We are going to be visible, while also tracing all the wanted suspects that we can link to outstanding cases.”
“When it comes to crime scene management, we are also looking at that aspect because we have cases that are not solved due to lack of crime scene management,” Mene said while elaborating on some aspects of Operation Sikhona.
The Eastern Cape Department of Community Safety welcomed Commissioner Mene’s crime-fighting plan, while also committing to support it to ensure its success.
“On behalf of the department, we commit to support this venture that has been launched by the provincial commissioner,” said acting head of department, Zukile Kani.
“In support of this venture, we are going to mobilise communities and create awareness and educate them as the department. We are equally going to strengthen stakeholder relations through moral regeneration, faith-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, and other social partners,” added Kani.
Ingquza Hill Local Municipality Mayor, Ntombenkosi Pepping, also pledged their support for Operation Sikhona, saying women were currently living in fear in the area due to high incidents of rape and other gender-based violence incidents.
