​Thembisa Shologu
To strengthen crime prevention efforts, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) will host the e-Policing Roundtable discussion at Noordgesig Primary School in Soweto on Saturday, 18 February 2023.
The discussions will allow stakeholders to share their knowledge and demonstrate solutions to support the GPG in the fight against crime, including Gender-based Violence (GBV) and femicide, vandalism, corruption and lawlessness. 
"High levels of crime in Gauteng province remain a great concern, particularly given the violent nature of many crimes and their impact on the most vulnerable residents in the most disadvantaged communities across the province. 
"The Gauteng Provincial Government has put initiatives in place to fight criminal elements, such as the e-Policing, Integrated Provincial Command Centre, deployment of Crime Prevention Wardens and the use of technology through drones and cameras, procurement of additional policing vehicles and helicopters," said Premier Panyaza Lesufi. 
The province will also tackle "lawlessness" through heightened law enforcement operations and prevent incidents of illegal land occupation and damage to the state infrastructure.  
The provincial government has recruited 6 000 Crime Prevention Wardens who will be deployed to wards, prioritising townships, informal settlements, and hostels to increase police visibility in communities.
Government will continue to work with community-based structures, Izindunas, in hostels through Community Policing Forums (CPF) to mobilise them in crime-fighting initiatives. 
The dialogue will also focus on e-Solutions, including: 
A new e-Security network will be created, enabling the availability of face recognition technology and surveillance cameras.
e-Toll gantries will be repurposed to monitor the movements of vehicles accordingly and efficiently. 
e-Panic buttons will be prototype-tested with government employees first and then introduced to households to assist in combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and other criminal acts. 
The province will be making available tools of trade, such as the procurement of drones, CCTV cameras, vehicles, and helicopters. 
Some stakeholders expected to participate include SAPS, law enforcement agencies, security companies, ICT companies and SMMEs, National Prosecuting Authority, PRASA, Telkom and Eskom, amongst others, as part of a multi-sectoral approach.