Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

A South African National |Defence Force helicopter and heavily armed police made |visiting the Gateway Theatre of Shopping a little more interesting and exciting yesterday.

Members of the SAPS National Intervention Unit and Special Task force literally dropped in on the shopping centre yesterday afternoon.

This was done as part of the joint initiative between the South African Council of Shopping Centres and Business Against Crime’s (BAC) bid to make the malls safer this festive season.

The policemen made a dramatic appearance, abseiling from a helicopter on to the roof of the shopping centre.

While the shoppers may have been grateful for the added security, those in the food court had to contend with their food being blown away by the helicopter.

The National Intervention Unit and Task Force members were meant to be dropped off on a grassy area near the food court, but had to change their plans and abseil on to the roof instead because of strong winds.

Metro Police, SAPS, police dogs and private security were also present in a “show of force”.

Jody Nair, provincial manager of BAC, said the aim of the initiative was to deter criminals.

“This is a high visibility operation using a multi-disciplined approach. We are using the defence force, SAPS, Metro and private security with the aim of deterring criminals. This is a show of force to say to criminals if you come to the malls, this is what you have to deal with,” he said.

Police will be deployed to the malls daily to ensure that there are no incidents.

“The defence force has scheduled drop-offs during the times when the biggest risks exist but we don’t want to divulge too much information on that,” Nair explained.

Members of the defence force, in full uniform and with all their gear, are also patrolling inside the malls.

Gateway centre manager Adrian Raw said the security measures in place at the shopping centre were to prevent crime as opposed to combating it.

“With the police, defence force and private security on patrol in the mall, criminals will be deterred from carrying out any criminal acts. Hopefully this show of force will prevent crime,” he said.

Other malls across KwaZulu-Natal will also have the same security measures in place this festive season.

The SANDF and SAPS teams also dropped by the George Campbell High School in Brickhill Road, where the public was invited to view the aircraft and take pictures.

The event was part of the festive season crime awareness programme, which has been implemented for the holiday season.

The SANDF aircraft will be used to assist the SAPS and Metro Police in fighting crime during the holiday months, when there is an influx of visitors to the city.

Insp Michael Read of the Durban Central Police Station said that a “zero tolerance approach” would be enforced during the festive period across the city. “The SAPS and other protection agencies have deployed additional manpower and resources throughout the CBD and along the beachfront to ensure a safe environment for our local people as well as visitors to the city,” he said.

Road blocks and random stop-and-searches would be conducted by police throughout the city during the next two months. Read also urged parents to be vigilant and keep and eye on their children at all times when they are out.

Christo Swart, chairman of the festive season management committee, said that a collective was looking after the safety of the public.

“This programme will be in place until mid-January, but the principles will continue throughout the year as well,” he said.

It is estimated that up to 100 000 people will visit the beachfront every day.