STATEMENT BY PREMIER WINDE AND MAYOR HILL-LEWIS
2nd September 2022
Minister Cele’s latest comments on SAPS devolution and LEAP continue to be nonsensical and divisive
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde described Police Minister Bheki Cele’s latest remarks on the issue of devolving the South African Police Service and the impact the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) is having as nonsensical. ‘Not only is his claim that LEAP officers have not been deployed to areas like Nyanga and Delft untrue, but I believe his dogged pushback at the Western Cape Government and City of Cape Town’s move to devolve the Police Service is wearing thin.’
The Premier said: ‘The Minister is deeply mistaken when he claims LEAP is not helping to push down violent crime in areas where officers are deployed. You need only look at the most recent crime statistics to see he is wrong. A more than 8% reduction in murders in most areas where LEAP is in operation is all the evidence one needs to see our interventions are having an impact.’
He pointed out: ‘The drop in murders due to the hard work LEAP officers – along with their partners - do is encouraging and proves the Provincial Government and City’s approach to fighting crime – rooted in data and evidence - is working.’