CBD gains solidify the case for dedicated resources

23 March 2025

Safety and Security first launched a dedicated deployment in the Cape Town CBD in July 2022 – last year, similar deployments were rolled out in the Bellville, Wynberg and Mitchells Plain CBDs … and they’ve paved the way for proposed dedicated ward resources, included in the 2025/26 draft budget. Read more below:

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Audio – Afrikaans: https://soundcloud.com/ct-media/23032025_afr_smith_cbd-gains

The CBD-focused deployments started in Cape Town Central in July 2022, with 100 dedicated officers to supplement existing crime prevention efforts. This was due to the sharp increase in crime post Covid in the CBD.

In June 2024, this model was replicated in Bellville, Mitchells Plain and Wynberg, with 24 Law Enforcement officers and 24 Metro Police officers across the three CBDs.

In the three months between December 2024 and February 2025, the teams in these four areas worked closely with other entities, resulting in 441 arrests and nearly 3 000 motorists screened for drunk driving. They also recorded 26 266 traffic and 4 316 by-law offences.

'The statistics are encouraging, but let's not discount the value of visible and present enforcement, which doesn't always come with simple metrics. Apart from acting as a deterrent, these officers have an opportunity to get to know the areas and the people, as well as the particular challenges. This kind of intelligence is far more difficult to gather using standard reactive policing methods – just another reason why dedicated resources in any area is a plus,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

Flowing from the CBD deployment model, Safety and Security has proposed dedicated Metro Police area teams in its draft budget.

In terms of the proposal, every ward in Cape Town will receive its own dedicated group of qualified and equipped Metro Police officers.

The teams will adopt a community policing and evidence based policing approach, by working closely with SAPS, neighbourhood watches and other community structures to understand, and respond to the unique challenges in their ward.

'I am very excited about this proposal, and if given the green light, is something that we'll be able to get off the ground fairly quickly, courtesy of our investment in Project 1000. The recruits have already completed their Law Enforcement qualifications and are currently completing the additional training to qualify as Metro Police officers. We speak often of our ongoing investments in public safety, and this is yet another example of spending the money where the need is,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office