DURBAN - President Cyril Ramaphosa and eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede launched a safety and security programme in KwaMashu on Saturday which will see 200 new metro police officers deployed around the city. Some of the 200 officers will be deployed in KwaMashu.

The announcement was made during the Durban-leg of the now famous Ramaphosa Walks.

The programme was at Ramaphosa’s early morning walk in KwaMashu which saw hundreds of people brave the heavy rain and cold weather, to walk in support of a healthier lifestyle.

But Ramaphosa said they were walking with purpose to better the lives of people in the community. Addressing the crowd at the Bridge City Mall at KwaMashu, he said the event was “a walk with purpose”.

“Today, this is a walk with purpose because it revolves around a place where people can feel safe and secure. We want to make our streets safer so we are launching a programme which will make the area safer,” said Ramaphosa.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Durban. 080918. Despite grim news this week that South Africa had fallen into a technical recession, President Cyril Ramaphosa laceed up his trainers and don his track suit for the now famous Ramaphosa Walk in Durban on Saturday. The president's walk became popular when he took over office at the start of the year, walking with scores of people in Cape Town. Some of the new Metro Police recruits that joined the president. Video: Nabeelah Shaikh

He said the government wanted to use his model around the country, particularly in areas where there was a lot of criminality.

“We want to get communities to come out and participate in acts like these while we also look at improving their safety,” said Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa thanked Mayor Gumede for responding to calls from the #ThumaMina campaign.