E2 crime fighting initiative extends to eight provinces

1st December 2021 By: Tasneem Bulbulia - Senior Contributing Editor Online

Industry organisation Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) and its subdivision Business Against Crime South Africa (Bacsa) have announced the national rollout of the Eyes and Ears (E2) initiative to eight of the country’s provinces as efforts to combat increased crime during the festive season intensify.

The E2 initiative was launched in 2018 after a successful pilot in Gauteng and has now rolled out to eight provinces owing to its success in helping to curb crime and assisting the South African Police Services (SAPS) to bring suspects to book, BLSA says.

The initiative is a collaboration between SAPS and participating private security companies where operational crime-fighting efforts are coordinated collectively.

It is said to enhance SAPS’ situational awareness by using the large geographical footprint of private security companies through their number plate recognition systems, security officers, patrol and escort vehicles, tactical vehicles and air support that is in constant contact with its control centres.

“The E2 initiative has had a colossal impact in fighting crime since its inception.

“In the past year that we’ve gradually expanded into other provinces, the E2 initiative has reported 58 383 incidents, varying from business and home burglaries, armed robberies, violent crimes to stolen cars and fraud.

“This has led to 293 suspects [being] handed over and a total of 829 vehicles either recovered or impounded for being used during criminal activities,” says Bacsa national project manager Fouchè Burgers.

South Africa experiences a sharp increase in crime during the festive season. This is attributed to the considerable increase of cash volumes which leads to armed robberies, burglaries and cash-in-transit heists.

Alcohol abuse and consumption of recreational drugs also contribute to the spate of violent crimes during this season, BLSA indicates.

Through the E2 initiative, private companies relay crime-fighting information to the SAPS provincial operational command centres where E2 personnel are stationed.

Other sources of information are also used, including automatic number plate recognition, cameras, closed-circuit television networks, WhatsApp and Telegram groups, and all social media platforms.

Fouchè encourages more private security companies to apply to be a part of E2.