Premier’s Safety Plan is a comprehensive evidence-based strategy | Western Cape Government

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Premier’s Safety Plan is a comprehensive evidence-based strategy

3 December 2019

The Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, dismisses comments made by Brett Heron MPL during the Western Cape Provincial Parliament’s budget vote today, which seek to undermine the iterative, adaptive and holistic nature of the Premier’s Safety Plan. Indeed, the Safety Plan is, in its current form, a working document which is both evidence-led and data-driven, accommodating the evolving safety needs of the Province. To read the Safety Plan, click here.

Premier Winde and Minister Fritz meet each Monday morning with key officials from the Western Cape Government and City of Cape Town to evaluate progress made. In addition, a Safety Secretariat meets regularly to ensure that the key apex priorities of the Safety Plan are actioned ahead of implementation. A Safety Cabinet will also be convened so that Premier Winde can track progress and provide feedback to each Minister in relation to their Department’s deliverables.

Minister Fritz said, “The Premier’s Safety Plan is an integrated whole-of-society plan that actively involves all Provincial Government Departments to address the root causes of crime and violence, through a focus on social interventions which target at-risk families, schools, youth and gangs. Interventions will target communities with the highest levels of murder and violent crimes. It includes the traditional ‘Boots on the Ground’ or Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (LEAP), coupled with targeted violence prevention interventions. Through these comprehensive efforts, we aim to halve the murder rate over the next 10 years.”

Minister Fritz added, “Tremendous progress has been made in setting up the basic implementation systems. In addition, all elements of the Safety Plan will be rigorously evaluated through a systematic and outcomes-based M&E system to ensure that the interventions have the desired and intended impact.”

Approximately R1.3 billion has been earmarked towards the implementation of LEAP over the next 4 years. This includes:

  • R130 million in the adjustments budget for the 2019/20;
  • R417 million in 2020/21;
  • R350 million in 2021/22; and
  • R400 million in 2022/23.

Minister Fritz said, “I welcome constructive input into, advice and critique on the Safety Plan and encourage all members of society to contribute in whatever way they can towards making the Western Cape safer for all who live in it. Let us avoid making the plan a target for political point scoring and constructively contribute towards making the Safety Plan work for the betterment of the lives of all residents in the Province.”

Attention broadcasters, please find English audio clip attached.

Media Enquiries: 

Cayla Ann Tomás Murray
Spokesperson for Minister Albert Fritz
Tel: 021 483 8550
Cell: 064 121 7959
Email: Cayla.murray@westerncape.gov.za