![Prof Dr Wilhelm Schmidbauer, Mr Alvin Rapea, Premier Helen Zille, National Police Minister, Mr Bheki Cele and MEC for Community Safety, Mr Alan Winde were panellists during the opening session of the plenary held on Tuesday, 13 November 2018. Prof Dr Wilhelm Schmidbauer, Mr Alvin Rapea, Premier Helen Zille, National Police Minister, Mr Bheki Cele and MEC for Community Safety, Mr Alan Winde were panellists during the opening session of the plenary held on Tuesday, 13 November 2018.](https://www.westerncape.gov.za/sites/www.westerncape.gov.za/files/picture1_35.png)
The Department of Community Safety, in partnership with the Department of the Premier, hosted the Safer Western Cape Plenary Session, from Tuesday, 13 November to 14 November 2018, at the River Club in Observatory, Cape Town.
The two-day-long conference drew the attendance of crime, safety and governance resource persons, including local and international representatives, in a bid to establish innovative and practical methods of community safety improvement and violence reduction within the Western Cape province.
Some of the notable delegates in attendance included National Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille,
Lieutenant Commissioner, Khombinkosi Jula, among other important figures, all with the common goal of achieving a safer Western Cape Province.
Violence prevention, gender-based violence, professional policing, gang violence, alcohol & drugs, environmental crime, commuter safety and rural safety are some of the subjects that were the focus in the parallel sessions held after the presentations by the various stakeholders.
The overall key message being that a safer Western Cape Province is possible through collaborative efforts – the broader communities working jointly with security officials in ensuring safety for everyone, BETTER TOGETHER.
Ishaam Davids
Head of Communications
Department of Community Safety
Tel: 021 483 6689
Email: Ishaam.Davids@westerncape.gov.za