SAPS slams hoax

SAPS has condemned a hoax doing the rounds that police and paramedics will not be working on Christmas day and New Year’s Eve.

And SAPS has distanced itself from an online media report claiming that police stations will be closed on these days.

Spokesperson, Brigadier Sally de Beer, yesterday said the report went as far as quoting the acting national police commissioner, Lieutenant General Khomotso Phahlane, as stating that all police stations and hospitals will be closed on these two days.

De Beer said Phahlane wants SAPS to place on record that the report was “misleading” and “misguided humour” done in bad taste.

“SAPS is of the opinion that making a mockery of the important work performed by essential services, such as the police and the medical fraternity, is an insult to the thousands of dedicated professionals who sacrifice their family time to serve and protect communities on days when other people rejoice with their loved ones,” said De Beer.

She added that, in complete contrast to the report, SAPS had intensified its efforts to ensure all South Africans felt safe over the festive season.

“Countrywide operations were launched several weeks ago and there is no doubt that our communities have witnessed the heightened police visibility,” she says.