City appeals for closer cooperation with SAPS to fight crime
The City of Cape Town has noted the report on the front page of yesterday's Cape Argus regarding the number of murders allegedly committed in Cape Town. Despite assurances by the South African Police Service (SAPS) that the number of murders mentioned in the report relates to the entire Western Cape, it has now emerged that the figure refers to murders committed in Cape Town (see Cape Argus report).
The City of Cape Town is committed to building a Safe City. We are determined to do everything we can to curb violent crimes wherever they occur in the metro. In doing so, it is imperative that all law enforcement authorities, including the SAPS, disseminate accurate information regarding crime levels in the city and province to avoid misleading the public on important matters like this.
However, the City's law enforcement authorities only play a supporting role to the South African Police Services, who have the primary constitutional function in the prevention of crimes in our communities.
For our part, the City has put in place proactive measures to fight gang violence and the proliferation of drugs in our communities through our Metro Police and dedicated units such as the Gang, Drug and K9 Units who are doing an outstanding job under difficult circumstances.
In spite of our best efforts to tackle violent crimes in the metro, we simply don't have sufficient law enforcement officers to win this battle. The approximately 770 law enforcement officers the City has cannot perform the functions of the SAPS who have 21 000 members in the city.