Brave budget in the face of adversity to create Safer Communities

Extracts from Minister Reagen Allen’s budget speech:

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen says the R 763.4 million budget of the provincial department for the 2024/25 financial year, shows courage in the face of fiscal uncertainty. The Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety’s (POCS) budget was tabled in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament on 27 March. The primary focus of the POCS budget is to ensure that the Western Cape Safety Plan (WCSP) continues to be placed front and centre in everything that we do, as this will further assist in creating safer communities across the province.

R 350 million is allocated to the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP). The LEAP initiative is extremely important if we are to halve the murder rate by 2029. LEAP is strategically deployed, and its operations are based on evidence and data so that they support communities most effected. This approach is also used as part of monitoring and evaluation to determine the effectiveness of LEAP and inform a cycle of continuous improvement. This includes our top 10 murder areas in the Western Cape, such as Delft, Gugulethu, Harare, Khayelitsha (Site B policing precinct), Kraaifontein, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga, Philippi East, and Samora Machel. Other high crime areas in which they are deployed are Atlantis, Bishop Lavis and Hanover Park, along with Lavender Hill, Steenberg and Grassy Park.

Since its inception, our LEAP officers have ensured that 564 firearms are removed from our streets and have arrested more than 28 200 suspects. This is a significant feat and demonstrates their commitment to making our communities safer. R 25 million has also been set aside for LEAP stations. This ensures that LEAP officers have an additional base to be deployed from, while residents have a space where they can now engage our officers, should they feel uncomfortable to go to a SAPS station.

As we aim to achieve safety across the province, we currently have three K-9 units based in the Swartland, Mossel Bay and Overstrand Municipal areas, along with two Rural Safety Units in the Swartland and Overstrand areas. R 11.3 million and R 9.9 million respectively, have been allocated for the further support of these units. Furthermore, particularly to ensure we expand our district footprint across the Western Cape, R 1.8 million is being invested in our Peace Officers, whom are all found in our non-metro municipalities. Between 2022, to date, we have already placed 226 Peace Officers in 14 municipalities. To also strengthen the hand of our districts in their crime fighting efforts, we have allocated R 4.5 million.

Partnerships with various stakeholders in the fight against crime is very important, and to this end, R 4.7 million has been allocated for the resourcing and accreditation of our neighbourhood watches (NHWs). We have allocated R 23.6 million to our Chrysalis programme. They continue to empower, develop and nurture the young people of our province, as this is a critical initiative if we’re to give our youth the best tools to navigate through various challenges.

The Western Cape Liquor Authority (WCLA) is an important entity in the regulation of liquor prices throughout the province. The important role they play within the liquor sector, particularly to reduce the harms associated with the abuse of liquor cannot be highlighted enough. Year-on-year this entity shows how highly effective they are in the regulation of the retail of liquor throughout the province. Its inspectors continue to ensure that all licensed liquor premises are visited and that the enterprises adhere to the various regulations and licensing conditions. To now further strengthened the work the WCLA is doing, R 61.1 million has been allocated.

It will take consistent bravery from all of us to combat crime. As the WCG, we are determined to create communities where residents can live without fear and in dignity. Let us all work together to beat it.