CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia has called for calm and political tolerance ahead of the upcoming elections, addressing the public during the large-scale launch of the Western Cape Safer Festive Season operations in Nyanga, Cape Town.
Addressing heightened tensions across the country, Cachalia expressed deep concern over rising political intolerance. He appealed to the public to maintain peace, emphasizing that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has a critical duty to navigate the upcoming electoral period safely.
“Bear in mind that we are moving into an election period and we are not free of the risks associated with political intolerance,” Cachalia stated. He noted that with the election scheduled in three weeks’ time, it is the fundamental responsibility of the police service to ensure the voting process takes place in conditions of absolute freedom, guaranteeing a free and fair election.
To bolster these efforts, the minister officially handed over 179 new vehicles. These resources will be distributed across the Western Cape to enable the SAPS to execute its duties more effectively during the busy festive period and the electoral season. To demonstrate its operational readiness, the SAPS also conducted simulated criminal incidents during the launch event.
National Commissioner Fannie Masemola outlined the strategic focus areas for the upcoming operations, highlighting a zero-tolerance approach to severe crimes.
“We focus on making sure that armed robberies should not happen, [and] all types of aggravated robberies,” Masemola explained. He also emphasized a strict crackdown on gender-based violence (GBV), noting that officers will prioritize tracking down and arresting suspects wanted for GBV who have open cases but remain at large. Road safety was also highlighted as a primary operational pillar.
The launch also underscored the need for a holistic, inter-departmental approach to law enforcement. Representatives from the Department of Employment and Labor urged all government departments to collaborate effectively, noting that economic stability and public safety are deeply intertwined.
“A worker cannot earn a living if she is afraid to walk to the taxi rank at 5:00 a.m. in the morning,” the department noted, adding that when communities are safe, they are able to work and thrive.
Referencing the National Development Plan, officials stressed that safety cannot be achieved by policing alone, as crime and unemployment continuously feed into one another. “The police can arrest the criminal, but if the young man on the corner still has no prospect of a job, another one will take his place,” it was noted, emphasizing that neither the police nor the labor department can win the fight against crime in isolation.
To translate these strategies into action, joint policing operations will be intensified. The SAPS will collaborate closely with the city’s metropolitan police and other agencies to increase visibility and execute targeted interventions aimed at strengthening overall safety across the province.
