PRESS RELEASE BY ALBERT FRITZ
WESTERN CAPE MINISTER OF COMMUNITY SAFETY
Date: 5 June 2020
Release: immediately
Department of Community Safety’s response to the COVID-19 crisis
Under the leadership of the Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, the Department of Community Safety (DoCS) has evolved its programmes to successfully respond to the COVID-19 crisis and related disaster management regulations.
Amongst the core programmes within DoCS’ response include the Chrysalis Academy, the Western Cape Police Ombudsman (WCPO), the Western Cape Liquor Authority (WCLA), the Western Cape Safety Plan’s Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (LEAP) and DoCS’ Provincial Security Provisioning services.
1. Chrysalis Academy
During the Lockdown, the Chrysalis Academy’s Extended Management have met weekly, ensuring that the following has been achieved:
Minister Fritz said, “Chrysalis Academy have been able to continue working while supporting the wellbeing of their students and graduates. They have further adapted their programmes to better to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.”
Specific adaptation strategies to manage the pandemic include:
2. Western Cape Police Ombudsman
Minister Fritz said, “During the lockdown, we have seen numerous reports of police brutality and unprofessionalism. The Western Cape Police Ombudsman (WCPO) has been an essential partner in addressing these concerns.”
The WCPO remains committed to providing a seamless service and for this reason they continue to encourage complainants to lodge their complaints by email, telephone or using their website.
The WCPO’s office has continued to provide its crucial services and adapted its services as needed by implementing the following steps:
3. Western Cape Liquor Authority
As of Monday 1 June, the sale of alcohol was again permitted. It was stated that licensed premises may sell liquor from Monday to Thursday, excluding Friday to Sunday and public holidays. Liquor may only be sold between 9:00 – 17:00 and may not be consumed on premises.
Minister Fritz said, “Through the Western Cape Liquor Authority (WCLA), my Department will continue to enforce the relevant regulations, with a particular focus on taverns. We know that in our most vulnerable communities, taverns, particularly those which operate unlicensed, play a significant role in perpetuating alcohol related harms which include gender based violence.”
Minister Fritz continued, “The WCLA will continue to work closely with SAPS to report unlicensed premises and ensure the necessary action is taken against them which includes paying an admission of guilt fine and the removal of their liquor stock. With regards to licensed taverns, the WCLA will continue to conduct its investigations into licensed premises which do not comply with the regulations and may issue a fine of up to R115 000 or revoke the license of those who do not comply, subject to an investigation.”
Between 23 March and 31 May, the WCLA had investigated a total of 60 cases. Of the 60 cases:
4. Western Cape Safety Plan’s Law Enforcement Advancement Programme
The purpose of the Western Cape Safety Plan is to halve the murder rate over the next ten years through evidence-led policing and through programmes which address the socio-economic contributors of crime.
Minister Fritz said, “The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting National State of Disaster necessitated a shift in the deployment methodology of Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (LEAP) officers. Consequently, our officers are moving from a cluster-led deployment model to a targeted hotspot-led deployment model, which will simultaneously address crime as and when it emerges.”
Deployed LEAP officers will continue to assist with roadblocks, respond to COVID-19 complaints, issue notices or fines, make arrests and encourage social distancing within the hotspots where they are deployed.
Minister Fritz said, “Between 25 and 31 May, we began deploying our LEAP officers, appointed through the Western Cape Safety Plan, in the province’s targeted COVID-19 hotspot areas including Tygerberg, Western, Khayelitsha and Klipfontein hotspots.”
During this short period, LEAP have successfully:
5. Provincial Security Provisioning/Private Security
The DoCS’ Directorate of Provincial Security Provisioning (PSP) established a Rapid Response Team to assess the security needs and levels of compliance to COVID-19 safety and security protocols at various health institutions in conjunction with the Department of Health (DoH).
The PSP has supported DOCS’ COVID-19 response by:
For further clarity on the conditions of lockdown, please see the following FAQs: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/department-of-health/frequently-asked-questions
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Cayla Ann Tomás Murray
Spokesperson for Minister Albert Fritz
Tel: 021 483 9217
Cell: 064 121 7959