​By Botho Male
The Department’s Public Transport Intervention Unit (PTIU), on Wednesday 14 February 2024, arrested and detained four (4) suspects for the possession of a hijacked motor vehicle in Mondeor, City of Johannesburg. 
During a routine patrol, officials stopped a vehicle and upon inspection and investigation discovered the vehicle was reported to be hijacked. Further investigation revealed he vehicle was hijacked in August 2023 and reported to the De Deur SAPS. 
Suspects were subsequently arrested and detained at the Mondeor SAPS and charged with the possession of a stolen motor vehicle. They are now subject to criminal proceedings. 
The patrols form part of Provincial Government's efforts to root out crime and lawlessness in the province. 
To this end, the province's crime fighting efforts received a much-needed boost through a partnership with Vuma Cam, allowing access to an additional 6000 CCTV cameras that will be an eye in the sky keeping residents safe.  CCTV cameras are part of the Provincial Government's strategy to embarce and utilize technology in the fight against crime. These are being placed in townships, business districts, high crime hotspots, roads, schools, and other public places.
The campaign is an intergovernmental collaboration between the Department of e-Government, Community Safety and the South African Police Services (SAPS) meant to boost all other available crime fighting initiatives, throug providing CCTV cameras, high quality drones for surveillances, issuing of panic buttons to improve access to law-enforcement officers during distress and installation of tracking devises on patrol vehicles.
Officers from the unit are tasked with conducting active law enforcement as well as enhancing visibility in the public transport sector.