E Rand police get new wheels
Clive Ndou
13 October 2004
The Ekurhuleni municipality in the East Rand on Tuesday handed over 99 new public safety vehicles worth R11-million to its police department in a move aimed at improving safety and emergency services.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony, Executive Mayor Duma Nkosi appealed to the local police department to take care of the assets as they were vital for effective delivery to the community.
"These are public vehicles that will be used by our police and emergency services. Those who will be using them should bear that in mind and look after them well. One also hopes that these cars will be a motivating factor in terms of how you do your work from now on," he said.
Hundreds of people including school children flooded the grandstands to witness the hand over of the vehicles that were displayed at Germiston Stadium.
After receiving the keys from the suppliers, Nkosi then officially handed them over to Ekurhuleni Chief of Police
Robert McBride.
McBride said that mechanisms were already in place to make sure that the council vehicles were properly looked after and kept in good condition.
The move will ensure that the department becomes more effective in fighting crime and in law enforcement and other emergency services in Ekurhuleni, while at the same time alleviating the problem of vehicle shortage within the local public safety department.
According to McBride, the new fleet, which includes 10 top-of-the-range BMWs, is expected to play a crucial role in dealing with criminals who normally use quick cars to commit cash-in-transit heists, armed robberies and other offences.
Explaining the logic behind the purchase of the vehicles, Ekurhuleni Public Safety Portfolio Head Vulindlela Mapekula said after scrutinising the functions of the metro police, emergency services, disaster management and licensing teams, it became clear they needed extra resources.
"These vehicles will not have
come at a better time considering that we have lined up numerous operations aimed at removing criminal elements from our communities prior to the festive season," he said.
Source: BuaNews
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