Hill-Lewis welcomes govt's plan to expand investigative powers of metro police

CAPE TOWN - Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has welcomed national government's plans to expand the criminal investigative powers of the city's municipal law enforcement.

This follows an announcement by Parliament’s police portfolio committee to amend the SAPS Act.

The mayor said he'd written to the police and justice ministers calling for policing power reforms this week.

"Expanding the powers of municipal law enforcement to investigate crime is a simple way to immediately help SAPS fight crime and gain more convictions. We welcome the police portfolio committee’s support for this idea."

Hill-Lewis said the reforms would allow law enforcement officers to help SAPS fight crime, especially in Cape Town.

"Over the next three years, we are investing a further R81 million in vehicles and R57 million to equip our vehicles with dashcams. Over the next three years, the city plans to invest R610m in safety technology, with an additional R200m already invested in the current financial year."