Pretoria – The launch of the TETRA Digital Radio Communication System and the state-of-the-art 10111 Command Centre will assist the police to respond swiftly to the needs of community members in distress.
The Command Centre was officially opened on Wednesday in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan in the Eastern Cape as part of the annual celebration of National Police Day.
Police Minister Nathi Nhleko led the event.
“We live in an era that is technologically advanced and need not ignore that we are part of a global village where the information highway plays a critical role in the interaction with communities to work together to fight the scourge of crime,” he said.
Minister Nhleko said the South African Police Service (SAPS) must keep up with the times and current trends to improve crime fighting. Terrestrial Radio (TETRA) is a digital radio communication system that has been operational in Gauteng. The Eastern Cape is now the second province to use the effective and modernised system.
TETRA is mainly used for communication among operational members in the SAPS, including 10111 centres.
The Minister said the nature of crime and the growing technological competence being displayed by criminals have made it necessary for SAPS to deploy robust and secure digital technology in its daily operations.
“The SAPS has therefore embarked on a national infrastructural development of this nature to be on par with international standards; enable us to have networks that are able to provide secure and high speed technologies and services.”
National Police Day was also used to pay tribute to the men and women who have committed to risk their lives to selflessly serve the country. The day has been celebrated since 2005 following a Cabinet decision that declared 27 January to be observed annually.
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