The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s efforts to create a safe city are gaining momentum, following the recent appointment of an additional 14 Metro Police officers to beef up the workforce on the ground.
On Wednesday, July 12, the Metro Police Deputy Commissioner, Advocate Andrew Moses, officially handed over badges and welcomed the officers to the Metro Police staff complement.
These new recruits underwent intensive training to become fully-fledged Metro Police members, capable and qualified to deal with crime prevention, traffic policing and bylaw enforcement.
The metro is faced with a high violent crime rate, incidents of vandalism of infrastructure, and general disregard of municipal bylaws.
“We are proud of these members for their commitment to go through the intensive training until the end,” said Moses.
Moses said the officers have already been deployed to different units within the Metro Police operations.
“The number might not be huge, but if properly utilised they will make a huge difference in our quest to create a safe city, working with other law enforcement agencies,” he added.
One of the newly-appointed Metro Police officers, Constable Buhle Tembeni, said that she was honoured and humbled to be part of a police team that is serving a municipality named after a great icon.
On Friday, July 14, three of these new Metro Police officers arrested a suspect in a recent Atlas security officer shooting and robbery case. The members made a successful arrest in Central while conducting their routine patrol work around 14:00 when they received a report that two men were on the run from a robbery scene towards flats in Gordon Terrace.
The officers swiftly responded to the report and found the two men fitting the description.
“While approaching the men, the suspects ran away and the officers gave chase and managed to catch one. Upon investigation, the suspect admitted that they had been involved in a crime and showed the members where the firearm of the Atlas security officer was hidden. The firearm was recovered in a block of flats in Central hidden under a mattress,” explained Moses.
“This brave act from our members prevented more loss of life because of the fact that an illegal firearm and ammunition is off the streets. As the Metro Police Department, we are commending the courage, bravery and vigilance of our members,” said Moses.
