NATCOM RECALLS ALL COPS ON LEAVE, ISSUES WARNING

MBABANE – All police officers who were on leave have been recalled to beef-up safety and security this festive season.

In keeping up with their slogan #Sikhona, the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police, Manoma Masango, said all members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), who were on leave, have been recalled to ensure that there is enough human resource to increase the visibility of the men and women in blue across the country and ensure the safety of emaSwati.
In a press conference where the NATCOM was delivering the festive season message, Masango said December and January, the festive season, is the busiest period in the country and the policing calendar, but they are geared to pull all stops to ensure that peace and order prevail.

He highlighted that the festive season in Eswatini also coincides with the most significant ceremony in the Eswatini calendar, Incwala, which calls for increased efforts of the service.
Masango, who was accompanied by Senior Deputy Commissioners Sula Dlamini, Shadrack Simelane, Deputy National Commissioners Wendy Hleta and Simangele Motsa, as well as Director Operations Tibonisile Mdziniso, said inasmuch as the festive season is for relaxing and spending time with family, that is not the case for the men and women in blue, as they are expected to ensure that every liSwati, visitors and residents of the Kingdom enjoy safe holidays.

Roads

The NATCOM stated that the service has already heightened safety and security measures countrywide. “Our approach is absolute zero tolerance towards crime and wayward behaviour on the roads, which results in accidents. Police officers are already on the ground, deployed in all strategic areas, especially those that are accident and crime prone. “Police presence in these areas is a proactive measure to ensure that crime and road accidents are mitigated as much as possible. Officers have also been deployed in business zones and visibility has been intensified in all public spaces as well as on the roads and highways in a quest to maximise public safety and security,” he said.

Noting that visibility also requires resources such as equipment and human resource, Masongo highlighted that the service is slightly over-stretched, but, measures have been put in place to ensure that they are everywhere as per their mantra #Sesikhona. He said, to ensure that the availability of human resource is beefed-up the service has recalled all officers on leave.
“There is no police officer that is on leave, unless there are critical circumstances. The officers have been made aware that the festive season is not a time for them to relax as they are a crucial sector. They will enjoy holidays or relax after the festive season,” he said.

Vehicles

Masango also highlighted that another issue was the availability of transport for attending to crime scenes. The NATCOM lauded His Majesty’s Government for allocating new motor vehicles to the service. He stated that since they were allocated motor vehicles from the 350 fleet that government received as part of the 800 purchased through Standard Bank, complaints about  transport availability have been reduced drastically. He also elaborated on partnership, including that with community police members. He noted that inasmuch as they have increased visibility, they also rely on community police for tip-offs whenever crime has occurred as well as ensuring crime prevention in their areas.

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