In partnership with the SANDF and other security role-players like the Metro Police and Correctional Services, the SAPS on 24 October launched its Safer Festive Season 2025/26 operation in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

Lieutenant Siphesihle Gqirana reported that the event symbolised unity among South Africa’s security cluster and law enforcement services, which are all working together to ensure a safe, crime-free festive period for residents and visitors across the province.

At the Gqeberha launch, soldiers from Army Support Base Eastern Cape carried out a drill and ceremonial parade while a BK117 helicopter from Air Force Station Port Elizabeth carried out a hoisting exercise – 15 Squadron Charlie Flight Pilot (Major Mzikayise Sandi), Flight Engineer (Sergeant Carel van Dalen) and the SA Police Service diving team practised hoisting over water operations to the delight of assembled crowds.

Other stakeholders taking part in the launch included the South African Military Health Service (Area Military Health Unit), Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Police, Correctional Services, and SA Police Service Mounted Unit.

The launch was led by the Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Major General Thandiswa Kupiso. “It is an honour to stand before you today to share an important message. The festive season is a time of joy, celebration and reunion. It brings visitors/tourists to our province and strengthens our local economy, but it also presents challenges, particularly in terms of criminal activity. This festive season, the safety of residents and visitors is our top priority. We will not allow crime to overshadow the positive spirit of this season. Partnership is crucial; we urge residents to stay vigilant, report any suspicious activity, and avoid drinking and driving, and look out for one another. We will leave no stone unturned, criminals will be pursued relentlessly, and we are committed to ensuring that this community remains safe for everyone,” she said.

During the launch, Kupiso officially handed over 28 new police vehicles to serve communities across Nelson Mandela Bay.

Throughout October, various provinces have been launching Safer Festive Season operations. National Police Commissioner Fanie Masemola explained at the beginning of the month that the Safer Festive Season Campaign is designed to combat crime during the South African summer holidays (typically from October to January), a period historically characterised by a significant surge in criminal activity.

“The Festive Season is characterised by specific dynamics, ranging from alcohol and drug abuse to more serious violent and organised crimes. Areas of particular concern include the wellbeing and safety of citizens, the safeguarding of South Africa’s territorial integrity, combating of illicit economy and the maintenance of the authority of the state,” Masemola said.

For the 2025/2026 period, the police are focussing on ten key areas: gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF); aggravated robberies; border security; the illicit economy and serious organised crime; firearms, liquor and second-hand goods; bylaws, urban decay and hijacked buildings; road safety and traffic law enforcement; event security (including SASREA and G20); tourism safety and protection of economic hubs; and extortion and kidnapping related crimes.

Safer Festive Season operations are already bearing fruit. The SAPS reported that between 20 and 26 October, 16 339 suspects were arrested and 158 unlicensed firearms confiscated. These operations were carried out in parallel with crime-fighting initiative Operation Shanela II.

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The report covers the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 and details both the administrative and operational activities of the organisation during the period under review.

South Africa’s maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) operations are carried out by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), which is hosted by the South Africa Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) on behalf of the Department of Transport (DoT).

The MRCC, based in Cape Town, is responsible for the coordination of available resources for searching, assisting, and, where needed, conducting rescue operations in, and outside of, its Search and Rescue Region (SRR). MRCC Cape Town maintains overall management of operations, and serves as the point of contact for Regional MRCC South Africa, inclusive of Angola, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Comoros.

During the 2023/24 reporting period, the MRCC responded to 138 SAR incidents, with 168 lives saved during the period. However, during the reporting period 20 lives were lost. The MRCC further assisted in connecting vessels to local Telemedical Services and coordinated the evacuation of 112 medevac (medical evacuation) operations for crew and passengers from vessels offshore to local hospitals.

The recent report, however, notes a “lethargic or lacklustre response” on the part of countries in the region when it comes to SAR operations. It attributes this to several factors including the diversity in national priorities, constitutional requirements, a particular lack of political will due to the humanitarian nature of the services, and budgetary constraints.

“It must be mentioned that this challenge is not confined to our immediate neighbouring countries but is currently a continental challenge,” notes the report, adding that this was the very reason behind the adoption of the Lome Declaration, which aims to address this deficiency.

South Africa has made major strides in finalising SAR agreements, as out of the 14 countries identified for this purpose, 10 agreements are already in place. There are, however, some agreements which require review given their age, and to align them with the template adopted by the Lome Declaration.

Among the issues identified in the report, the lack of funding and aircraft were identified as a significant risk hindering the aeronautical and maritime sector’s ability to effectively respond to SAR incident/accidents.

The availability of South African Air Force (SAAF) aircraft for SAR operations “is a huge challenge, with limited to no availability,” notes the report. The Department of Health provincial Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) does not have contracts in place in some provinces, resulting in HEMS having no aircraft available for deployment. Further delays are due to the vast distances required to deploy.

MRCC Cape Town was unable to effectively provide the required maritime SAR service as stipulated in accordance with its mandate. The report indicated it is due to the “unavailability of resources and assets from the SASAR Manual Signatories such as the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and having to rely on the availability of the Merchant Fleet vessels SAR operations.”

“MRCC Cape Town is severely restricted by the lack of Maritime SAR capable resources and the required support from the SASAR manual signatory agencies. It is also restricted in its access to relevant technology which could enhance its response to SAR incidents.”

The report lists recommendations which could mitigate these concerns, such as the establishment of Service Level Agreements with vessels that can assist in the delivery SAR raft, recover survivors from sea or rescue craft, and deliver medical evacuation support for life threating conditions at ranges exceeding 50 nautical miles.

Additionally, the report calls on SAMSA to ringfence the MRCC financial requirements for it to be claimed from SASAR, and MRCC Cape Town should be allowed to procure Maritime SAR related technologies in consultation with the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre.

MRCC Cape Town must further be allowed to identify able and capable SAR resources, air or surface, and utilise these resources without restriction as prescribed in the South African Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Act, 2002.

A major concern discussed in the report is the status of air support from the SAAF, both in regard to training and operations, which have continued to decline over the year due to lack of serviceable air frames.

“There were significant periods when no serviceable aircraft were available at the various squadrons to support SAR operations. As a result, no joint mountain rescue operations were conducted with SAAF and insufficient training occurred to maintain currency.”

Levers Mabaso, Chief Director of SASAR, expressed his concern in the report around the “hugely underfunded South African Search and Rescue Organisation, as well as SAR operations which poses significant risk to the safety of aviators and mariners plying their trade in the South African territorial waters/land.”

SASAR’s activities are funded from public funds and its budget forms part of Vote 35 of the Department of Transport. Other funding sources come in the form of sponsorships from the aviation and maritime industry for specific projects or purposes. No sponsorships or donations were received during the year under review.

The annual budget during the year under review was R66 389 000. The budget covered the compensation of employees, transfer payments, machinery and equipment, search and rescue projects, and meetings. However, total expenditure was R66 629 000, leading to a deficit of R240 000.

SASAR and its SAR operations remain grossly underfunded, which the organisation believes poses significant risk to the safety of aviators and mariners plying their trade in South African territorial waters.

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