The Western Cape Government has unveiled a major investment in community safety, pledging R360 million to recruit, train, equip, and deploy law enforcement officers in the province’s most vulnerable communities.

This comes after ongoing concerns over high levels of violent crime and gang activity across the province, particularly in Cape Town’s metro areas and surrounding districts.

Communities such as Manenberg, Hanover Park, and Khayelitsha have borne the brunt of persistent gang-related shootings and turf wars, which have claimed dozens of lives and left residents living in fear.

Armed robberies, drug trafficking, and extortion rackets have also escalated, placing immense pressure on both provincial and national law enforcement agencies to restore order and public trust.

The announcement was highlighted in the Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety’s Annual Report 2024/25, tabled on Wednesday, which illustrates a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society strategy” to tackle crime while simultaneously creating development opportunities for young people.

Benedicta van Minnen, MPP and Spokesperson on Police Oversight and Community Safety, emphasised the urgency of the approach.

“The Western Cape Government is stepping up because our communities are under siege. The constitutional mandate for policing lies with the South African Police Service (SAPS), and we are facing a crisis in police management and leadership.”

Van Minnen said the department has demonstrated that an “efficient, well-run, and organised department can achieve significant results within their mandate,” highlighting youth empowerment, law enforcement support, and community partnerships as key pillars of the strategy.

In addition to the R360 million allocated to the City of Cape Town, the provincial government also provided R5.4 million specifically for Peace and Law Enforcement Officer training.

District municipalities received targeted funding to strengthen local safety efforts, including R1 million each for four districts and R581,000 for the Central Karoo District Municipality, aimed at implementing coordinated responses to social unrest.

The province’s commitment to youth development remains strong.

A total of 682 young people were supported through the Chrysalis Academy, receiving critical life, leadership, and employment skills, while 480 accredited Neighbourhood Watch groups, 259 of which were accredited in the 2024/25 financial year, have strengthened community-led safety initiatives.

In addition, 81 Community Police Forums collectively received R998,000 to enhance oversight and public participation in local policing.

“The Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety has shown what a well-run department can achieve,” Van Minnen added. “By empowering youth, supporting law enforcement, and working alongside communities, we are building a safer, more dignified future for all residents of the Western Cape.”

In a related development, the South African Police Service in the Western Cape, under Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General (Adv.) Thembisile Patekile officially launched the 2025 Safer Festive Season Operations at the Khayelitsha Rugby Stadium.

The campaign will intensify high-visibility and intelligence-driven policing across all districts during the festive period, with patrols, roadblocks, and targeted operations aimed at curbing crime.

Lieutenant General Patekile reaffirmed SAPS’s strong stance on crime and urged public cooperation.

“We will not tolerate lawlessness during this period. Our members will be out in full force to ensure that every resident and visitor enjoys a safe, peaceful, and crime-free festive season. Community cooperation remains vital; together, we can make this festive season safer for everyone.”

The government emphasises that its Safety Plan is more than a promise; it represents action and targeted investment where communities need it most.

IOL News

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