Minister Fritz Meets with Overberg Safety stakeholders

Today, the Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, hosted a workshop on the Provincial Needs and Priorities (PNP) and Safety Plan for the Overberg region. 

Representatives from SAPS, district and local municipalities, Community Policing Forums, private security agencies and the SANDF, were in attendance. At the two-day workshop, beginning today, stakeholders will discuss:

• Provincial and district safety priorities;
• Local government’s safety mandate and district crime trends;
• The need for early warning systems and mediation; and
• Determination of policing needs and priorities and review of an integrated safety plan for the Overberg.

Minister Fritz said, “Today’s workshop provided great insight into the extent of crime in the Overberg District and allowed for the necessary stakeholders to determine their Policing Needs and Priorities. This information will now be included in a report by the Department and submitted to the national Minister for Police, Bheki Cele, who will take it into consideration when resource allocation to the province is considered. In turn, this will allow policy-makers, such as myself, to actively participate in the prioritisation of safety issues in this region, and review the safety strategy and plan for the Overberg.”

Minister Fritz further added, “Thus far, we have conducted two PNP sessions in the Cape Winelands and Central Karoo. We have made progress in the form of transfer payment agreements which were signed with all five Districts and funds for the first year have already been transferred. Currently, the Department is in the process of drafting safety plans and workshops will be held in the remaining district municipalities.”

Under the leadership of Minister Albert Fritz, the Department of Community Safety will continue to use every tool at its disposal to improve the safety of residents in the Western Cape.