The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape officially kicked off its 2025 Safer Festive Season Operations at the Khayelitsha Rugby Stadium, marking the start of a province-wide campaign aimed at keeping residents and visitors safe during the upcoming busy holiday period.
The initiative, launched yesterday, 15 October, under the leadership of Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, sets the tone for a season of intensified policing across the province, a time when criminal activity often spikes.
According to SAPS, this comprehensive operation will combine high-visibility patrols, intelligence-driven actions, and community collaboration to maintain law and order. It’s part of a broader strategy to create what the department calls ‘safe, peaceful, and crime-free communities.’
The festive season plan forms part of Operation Shanela II, a national policing initiative designed to strengthen security through coordination between SAPS and its law enforcement partners.
Throughout the Western Cape, officers will conduct roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, stop-and-search operations, and suspect tracing, while focusing on hotspot areas, transport routes, business hubs and entertainment zones.
Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, who delivered the keynote address, commended the Western Cape SAPS for its preparedness and commitment to safety.
‘We will continue to monitor operations in the Western Cape to ensure that the strategic direction of the Safer Festive Season campaign is effectively executed,’ said Lt Gen Mosikili.
‘The safety of our communities remains our foremost priority, and we expect all law enforcement officers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and service delivery.’
Meanwhile, Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile reaffirmed SAPS’s uncompromising stance on crime and urged residents to work alongside police to ensure safer neighbourhoods during the festive months.
‘We will not tolerate lawlessness during this period,’ he remarked. ‘Our members will be out in full force to ensure that every resident and visitor enjoys a safe, peaceful, and crime-free festive season.’
SAPS reiterated that effective policing requires public vigilance and collaboration, encouraging citizens to report any suspicious activity immediately.
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