'Police working with criminals will be flushed out with them' Bheki Cele

'Police working with criminals will be flushed out with them' Bheki Cele

Police Minister Bheki Cele has warned police officers who fraternise with criminals will be severely dealt with.

Bheki Cele
Image courtesy: Gauteng Department of Community Safety

"If there is anyone of us here who intends to work with criminals, you must go and join them. Don't use our blue uniform to join them. We want to flush. If we found you in our way of flushing them out you will be flushed too." 


He led a police parade around Pietermaritzburg's Edendale area yesterday as part of efforts to address an alarming number of murders and other crimes against women and children, reported to the Plessislaer police station this month. 


The Minister says over 100 police officers have been deployed - as force multipliers - to the Plessislaer, Inanda and Umlazi areas to assist in combating crime. 


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The deployment is informed by the latest National crime statistics which indicates that the Inanda, Plessislaer and Umlazi police stations have recorded high incidents of murder and other contact crimes as well as alarmingly high levels of Gender-Based Violence related incidents. 


Cele received a full report on the effectiveness of the added forces. In his address to the officers, Minister Cele urged them to ‘take no prisoners as they squeeze out crime.' 


“While you have been on the round a few days now, your impact is already been felt. Arrests have been made and the most important crime is being prevented through your visible patrols. 


"Remember that these communities rely on you to keep them safe, especially the women and children; don’t disappoint them.”


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