By: Natasha Archary

The National Safer Festive Season Operations have been rolled out, with the South African Police Service (SAPS) already hitting the ground running in the Western Cape.
On Monday, 16 October police in the province seized R75 million worth of counterfeit goods and R200 000 in cash from a shopping centre in Belville, Cape Town.
The raid was part of the initiative to crack down on crime over the festive period, where heightened visibility through regular roadblocks, stop and searches, as well as the tracing of wanted suspects will intensify.
Police Minister Bheki Cele handed over 36 vehicles to assist police in their efforts to bolster their crime combatting efforts and heighten visibility in gang ridden areas where murders are prevalent.
“The SAPS Safer Festive Season Operational Plan was rolled out today in all provinces. The plan will see heightened focus on seven areas which include GBVF, combatting of serious and violent crime such as aggravated robberies, border security, strenthening by-laws, road safety, as well as illegal mining.
We are not going to co-govern with criminals. We are going toe-to-toe with them, our priority is the safety and security of all the inhabitants of this country and their property.
Police officers are instructed to also sharpen their responses to the most vulnerable in society, during the holiday period and beyond.”
In a bid to improve and enhance service delivery, SAPS has also launched a service rating platform where members of the public will now be able to rate the service they are receiving from all Police Stations across the country.
R50 million worth of counterfeit goods have been seized in Belville, Cape Town, Four people have been arrested, they all face charges of contravening the counterfeit goods act. This is the start of the SAPS nationwide Safer Festive Season Operations. pic.twitter.com/FfAPWfMr43
— Athlenda Mathe (@AthlendaM) October 13, 2023



