Gauteng govt prioritising safety of residents and visitors over festive season

JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng government is prioritising the safety of residents and its visitors over the festive season.  

It said that multi-disciplinary teams would be on the ground in communities, particularly those where crime was rife.  

Although Gauteng recorded a significant drop in crime by 4.5% during the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year, police said their guard would not be down.  

The Gauteng Tourism Authority said that focusing on safety was important, particularly during this time of the year.  

"We will be deploying our 8,000 crime prevention wardens and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that a Golden Festive Summer in Gauteng is safe and secure,” said spokesperson Barba Gaoganediwe.  

Gaoganediwe added that the province was also ready to welcome overseas visitors and provide a safe stay.  

"Sporting activities which will also be taking place during this time will form part of the offering, with many national teams scheduled to visit Gauteng, as well as international artists performing at music shows."