Upgrades make city safer

IMPROVED: METRO POLICE, EMERGENCY SERVICES, DISASTER MANAGEMENT, SURVEILLANCE >>→ Use of smart technologies speed up response and are more reliable - MMC.

- Oratile Mashilo

A Pikitup employee cleans up next to Bara taxi rank in Soweto yesterday after heavy rain in Johannesburg. Motorists are urged to exercise caution when driving on wet roads. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

(Nigel Sibanda)

The City of Joburg has made "tangible progress" in restoring safety, discipline and service delivery across its public safety units, says MMC for public safety Mgcini Tshwaku.

Speaking at a media briefing, he highlighted the progress made in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Emergency Management Services (EMS), Disaster Management, licensing and the Integrated Intelligence Operations Centre.

Tshwaku said the department's efforts over the past year have been guided by a vision of "a safer and more resilient Johannesburg".

"Our approach is based on an open, accountable, corruption-free government that fosters a society free from fear of victimisation by state agencies," Tshwaku said.

He reported significant progress in stabilising the JMPD, which now has a permanent chief of police, Patrick Jaca, and an improved operational fleet.