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Residents at the busy Maponya Mall in Klipspruit, Soweto, were startled to hear police sirens going off all around them as they went about their weekend shopping on Saturday.
Those who were brave enough to come closer were greeted with smiles as the Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) kicked off its public awareness campaign by giving kasi kids rides on the bikes from the freeway unit.
Motorists who also suspected they might have outstanding traffic fines were able to check their status without fear of an arrest.
The JMPD’s Xolani Fihla said the campaign the Maponya Mall activation was part of the City’s plan to foster good relations with residents and bring to the fore the critical work that department was doing to keep Joburg roads safe.
“Today we have the Outreach Unit, the Traffic Management Unit, the Freeway Unit, the Special Patrol Unit, the K9 Unit and the Tracing Unit. We also have the breathalyzer testing bus and have partnered with the South African Breweries, who have portable Breathalyzer tests. Our motto is: If you’re going to drink, please don’t drive. Get a designated driver or Uber or Bolt,” said Fihla amid sirens and screams of delight from youngsters getting on and off JMPD bikes.
Part of the public awareness campaign, Fihla said, was to build trust among residents of the City of Johannesburg and to reduce the carnage, especially during the approaching festive season. “We want to partner with members of the public so that they don’t regard us as the enemy but their guardian angels,” said Fihla.
The next campaign is expected to hit Region A in Midrand on Saturday, 16 November 2019.
