The wall, erected on the concourse level of the Civic Centre in the central business district, contains the names of 24 staff members who have given their lives in service of the City of Cape Town and its residents since 1907.

The memorial contains five silhouettes representing the departments within the Safety and Security Directorate: Metro Police, Traffic Services, Law Enforcement, the Fire and Rescue Service, and Disaster Risk Management – along with a list of names of those in whose memory it has been erected. The staff in these departments work tirelessly to ensure the City’s Organisational Development and Transformation Plan priority to create safe communities.

The wall utilises ‘light’ to embody the memory of those who have given their lives in the line of duty. The halo effect around the silhouettes allows the viewer to focus on the illumination rather than a fixed object, i.e. on their life rather than death.

The memorial also creates a sense of solemnity in order to be respectful of the families who have been deeply affected through their loss. The darker background thus creates a ‘quiet space’ for reflection and memory. ​​

‘I am immensely proud of this project because it allows us to pay homage to the staff members who have served this city so selflessly. We should never forget their contribution and this wall will serve as a constant reminder of their sacrifice, not just to us as the City but also their relatives who are still struggling to fill the void that’s been left by their passing. I know that the trauma of losing these colleagues and friends is something that is felt acutely in each department and by each chief, inspector and officer. I had the privilege of knowing some of those whose names appear on this memorial. Some died while fighting fires, some were shot at point-blank range while trying to maintain law and order, and others were hit by drunk drivers.

‘The violence and crime evident in our city is all of our concern and the immense task of ensuring the safety of residents is something that weighs heavily on all of us. I have joined many operations in the field to get an idea of what our staff members deal with on a daily basis and I have seen first-hand the threats they face. This is what inspires me to work hard to ensure that our staff are as prepared and protected as possible while they are on duty.

‘There are many brave men and women who put their lives on the line for us on a daily basis, helping us make Cape Town a safer city for all – sacrifices that often go unnoticed amid the negativity that surrounds enforcement in this country. I tip my hat to those who don the uniform on behalf of the City, day in and day out, to make a difference and I also hold those for whom the journey was so abruptly halted dear to my heart for their contributions. This memorial wall is but a small token of my and the City’s appreciation for their service,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith.

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