DSD joins with City of Cape Town to launch innovative Delft Focus Table

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) has joined forces with the City of Cape Town to launch the innovative Focus Table initiative in Delft.

The Delft Focus Table is an action committee composed of;

• social workers,

• SAPS,

• CoCT Law Enforcement,

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  the Principals of the 27 Delft schools,

• community volunteers,

• local Councillors

• and Prof. John Cartwright (UCT academic).

The launch of the Focus Table is an important step to further streamlining the approach of social services and law enforcement, and will work closely with the Neighbourhood Safety Teams pioneered by the City.

The Delft Focus Table will meet once every two weeks to discuss how best to holistically refer cases such as children with challenging behaviour or in conflict with the law, substance abuse, truancy and other social challenges and crimes.

The interventions will focus on early detection of anti-social behaviour, and take into account psycho-social and economic context of each such case and deciding upon appropriate remedial action, with recourse to law enforcement being regarded as a last resort.

The CoCT will provide networking, resources and programmes in order to minimise more intensive DSD statutory interventions.

Based on the success of the Delft initiative, the Focus Table approach will be replicated to other high risk communities to address issues of social crime, and build strong family structures and communities.