Police Minister Senzo Mchunu announced heightened security measures for the festive season, emphasizing that South African Police Service officers will maintain full deployment throughout Christmas.

“There’s no Christmas without South African police on site,” Mchunu declared during an oversight visit to the Eastern Cape, where he reviewed the progress of Safer Festive Season Operations launched in October.

The nationwide security effort has been strengthened by 2,699 newly trained police constables, with 526 deployed to the Eastern Cape alone. Police have already arrested 13,679 suspects for various crimes, including 485 murder arrests in the Eastern Cape.

A disturbing trend of insurance-related murders has emerged in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. Police investigations have linked 67 murders to insurance fraud schemes, with 145 people already receiving payouts from banks and insurance companies.

“Evidence points out that these 67 people were murdered by either friends, family members or acquaintances who stand to gain monetarily,” Mchunu revealed. Kwanobuhle leads with 28 cases, followed by Kwazakhele with 23.

The festive operations have resulted in the closure of 337 unlicensed liquor outlets and the seizure of 351 firearms with over 4,700 rounds of ammunition. Police also recovered 298 stolen or hijacked vehicles.

The minister expressed concern about rising road fatalities, announcing increased roadblocks in collaboration with transport authorities. The operation focuses on nine key areas, including combating gender-based violence, armed robberies, and enhancing border security.