City of Cape Town calls for collaboration with SAPS
The city says the pact, which has been signed by all three spheres of government, represented by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Western Cape Premier Allan Winde and Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, will only be formalized through action.
President Cyril Ramaphosa witnesses the signing of the Cooperation Agreement to Combat Crime by multiple stakeholders during a ceremony held at the Erica Park Sports Ground in Belhar, Cape Town. Picture: GCIS
CAPE TOWN - The City of Cape Town is calling for the swift finalisation of the collaboration agreement between the SAPS and the city’s law enforcement officers.
The city said that the pact, which has been signed by all three spheres of government, represented by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Western Cape Premier Allan Winde and Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, will only be formalised through action.
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The agreement includes a memorandum of understanding signed between SAPS and the metro in Belhar on Friday.
The city said that there's an urgent need to ensure that the SAPS in the Western Cape is adequately resourced, and that crime intelligence is shared among stakeholders.
The metro's MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith said resources must be concentrated in areas that require them the most.
"I reaffirm my call to the National Minister that we need to finalise this part of the agreement within the next three weeks to ensure we can start to share intelligence, plan joint operations, and gather evidence effectively, and utilise every tool at the City's disposal. What South Africa needs is smarter policing not only more policing."
Smith adds that extortion and gang syndicate leadership in Cape Town must be the first point of focus to free communities from fear and protect businesses.