​Lerato Mailoane
Gauteng traffic police officers will soon be issued with body cameras to help gather evidence and improve the conviction rate for traffic law violators.
These cameras will further act as a deterrent for corruption, effectively preventing officers from soliciting or accepting bribes from motorists. 
That is according to MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko who was addressing lawmakers in the Gauteng legislature during her departmental budget vote speech.
The MEC said the key initiative is the implementation of the e-policing strategy which includes the establishment of the command centre, which has been allocated R11,8 million.
The work of establishing a Provincial Integrated Command Centre is at an advanced stage and will be rolled out in phases, said Mazibuko.
An amount of R36 million has been allocated to improve police visibility. Over 50 patrol vans and eight mobile police stations will be handed to the South African Police Services to crime hotspots.
Another key priority for the 2022/23 financial year is the implementation of 24/7 Traffic Policing by Gauteng Traffic Police which has been allocated R76,6 million.
In response to the most challenging acts of crime and vandalism in our communities, the Executive Council has approved the establishment of the War Room on Crime and Law Enforcement. 
"The mandate of this War Room is to address crime and criminality in the public sector, cyber-crimes, Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), illegal land invasion and occupation and vandalism of infrastructure."
An amount of R65,8 million is allocated to fight the scourge of GBVF. Police Stations have established GBV Desks to ensure that victims are assisted immediately and treated with dignity.
Mazibuko said a special focus will be on vulnerable groups such as women, the elderly, children, people with disabilities and the LGBTQIA+ community. 
"The task of building and creating a safer space for communities must resonate in words and actions…working relationship between communities and various law enforcement agencies is of the utmost importance." 
The MEC called on communities to form street and block committees, including the private security companies, to work in partnership with community structures for safer public spaces. 
The presence of patrollers and neighbourhood watches adds to the force multiplier effect. There is a need to strengthen community and police relations, to ensure that we work together to rid our communities of crime. This will ensure that criminals have no place in our societies," she added.