Pretoria – The communities of South Africa are getting involved in the fight against crime by providing anonymous tip-offs on criminal activities in their neighbourhood.
During July 2014, tip-offs to Crime Stop (0860010111 phone line) and Crime Line (32211 SMS number) resulted in the arrest of 32 individuals in six provinces, police said on Tuesday.
These are Gauteng, Western Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
According to Police, the majority of the arrests were for the possession of and dealing in drugs such as dagga, cocaine, mandrax and crystal meth.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale said three individuals were arrested for dealing in drugs and 15 for being in possession of drugs.
Among those arrested include three persons for fraud, three for contraventions in terms of selling liquor and two persons for the importation of Schedule 6 substances without having the necessary permit.
Makgale said medication with a value of approximately R1.5 million was seized at OR Tambo International Airport during this arrest.
National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega thanked all citizens who heeded the call to become involved in the fight against crime.
“Any contribution, including making an anonymous tip-off via the Crime Stop or Crime Line numbers, is truly appreciated. No offence is too minor to report,” said Phiyega.
She added that: “A person involved in minor crimes could well turn to committing more serious and violent crimes”.
Head of Crime Line, Yusuf Abramjee, echoed the same sentiments and encouraged the public to continue blowing the whistle on crime.
“Tipoffs work. It is every citizen’s moral and civic obligation to speak out against crime and criminals. Your tips are anonymous,” he said.
Abramjee added that the on-going Crime Line and Crime Stop successes proved that “the role of the public in assisting police to fight crime is of principal importance.”
