Three spheres of government shake hands to combat Cape crime

The police ministry says they are confident that the renewed agreement on policing from all three spheres of government will heel positive results.

A stakeholder engagement meeting, led by Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, between the South African Police Service (SAPS), Western Cape Government (WCG) and City of Cape Town (CoCT), was held on Tuesday, and the three spheres of government have drafted a cooperation agreement aimed at reducing rampant crime in the Cape metro.

PICTURE: SAPS

Some of the aspects include sharing of intelligence information. It also states that all spheres of government must implement their roles outlined in the agreement.

National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, says the gang wars, and extortion in Cape Town needs to be nipped in the bud.

‘’It is concerning that in the last crime statistics that were released for the period between October and December 2023, the City of Cape Town recorded a rise in murder and attempted murder cases. It is for this reason, that this city remains our top priority in the fight against crime as evidenced in our resources allocation to ensure that we heighten Police visibility in order to intensify crime prevention operations and our interventions in various hotspots. Each time we receive new Police recruits, the Western Cape also receives one of the biggest allocation from our newly trained Police Officers because we understand the urgent need to combat crime and deal decisively with criminality in this part of the country.’’

The Western Cape Government welcomed the intended signing of the policing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

 “It is an encouraging step towards more collaborative policing, based on evidence and data, which has been at the heart of the Western Cape Government's approach to addressing crime as outlined in our Safety Plan. My sincere hope is that this MoU will translate into the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape being adequately resourced to more effectively do its job in making communities safer. We must learn from the past and constantly revisit policing models based on our data-led approach. While we will work closer with the SAPS, thanks to this agreement, the WCG will still push for the devolution of policing powers because we believe that it is in the local sphere where you can make a major difference,’’ said Western Cape premier, Alan winde.

Western Cape’s Police Oversight & Community Safety MEC, Anroux Marais, said the MoU has long been a priority of the Western Cape Government, but it has taken up until now to come to fruition.

‘’The role of the Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety is of coordination and oversight, and I am satisfied with the outcome. Far too often in the past, the relationships between spheres of government regarding crime-fighting in the Western Cape were confrontational rather than cooperative. I wish to thank Alderman JP Smith for being steadfast in the battle against crime. And I want to commend the national Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, for his willingness to start a new chapter of cooperation in the best interest of our residents.”

“Our people suffer at the hands of extortionists - be they small-scale criminals who rob the lady trying desperately to make ends meet by selling vegetables or the self-styled construction mafia which has a devasting impact on our economy. Our people suffer at the hands of murderers, gangsters, robbers, rapists, hijackers and every other type of criminal. Crime can only be beaten if we all work together. The Western Cape Government therefore welcomes this step towards beating crime and we give it our full support,” added Marais.

The City of Cape Town hopes the government of national unity (GNU) will pave way for more policing powers for its law enforcement agencies.

‘’It is our hope that this agreement is the first step towards a blueprint for mutual aid and partnerships, but also the sharing of up to date crime data and intelligence with City enforcement services; utilising the investments the City has made into policing, focused on improving public safety in Cape Town; expanding on the areas where such partnerships already exist; and Aligning approaches to support and enhance economic performance within the City. Good work and collaboration have already begun on combating economic crimes and extortion syndicates. Much more can and must be done to stop these syndicates,’’ said JP Smith, Mayco Member for Safety & Security.

The official signing of a Cooperation Agreement will take place on Friday.

Done By: Mitchum George