A 280-member specialised unit has been deployed in Cape Town to combat extortion, theft and vandalism in the city.
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Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the unit will help protect frontline staff who deliver services in communities. ‘With this 280-member strong Facilities Protection Officer (FPO) initiative, we are pushing back against criminal threats to City staff and public facilities. The programme has a budget of R112 million over three years, an investment the City hopes to recoup in reduced vandalism and theft of critical infrastructure,’ he says.
‘We are also calling on communities to use our toll-free tip-offs line and cash rewards system for information leading to the arrest of those damaging facilities and making extortion threats against frontline services staff. Together we can protect our community assets, and the staff working faithfully each day to collect our refuse, fix electrical faults, water and sewer networks, roads and more. We can turn the tables on criminals chipping away at our efforts to build a city for all.’
The Facility Protection Officers will work alongside the law enforcement’s Rapid Response Unit, Metro Police, Traffic Services, SAPS and local communities. The officers will inspect City facilities and escort frontline staff who require protection while in the field.
They will be supported by 200 Facility Protection Monitors deployed to specific facilities to improve overall staff safety and security. The Monitors are employed via the Expanded Public Works Programme and recruited locally from the communities in which they will be deployed.
The areas of deployment include:
- Beacon Valley
- Bonteheuwel
- Brown’s Farm
- Delft
- Delft South
- Eersteriver
- Hanover Park
- Harare
- Imizamo Yethu
- Kuyasa
- Langa
- Lavender Hill
- Leonsdale
- Manenberg
- Masiphumelele
- Netreg
- Nyanga
- Philippi East
- Retreat
- Seawinds
- Sir Lowry’s Pass Village
- Site C
- Tafelsig
- Uitsig
- Wesbank
Furthermore, staff will be deployed across the metro, particularly in identified hotspots. ‘We have established a list of areas and facilities most under threat to serve as a starting point. We also have a blueprint, thanks to the initial pilot project a few years ago,’ says Hill-Lewis. ‘In one of the case studies during the pilot, City facilities in two areas suffered damage of nearly R800 000 in just six months. Thanks to the FPO pilot, a year later, there were just three cases of vandalism and theft, with damage dramatically reduced to less than R80 000.’
The City’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, Alderman JP Smith, says a good working relationship between all stakeholders is crucial to the success of any project. ‘That is why our FPOs will be expected to liaise regularly with local community structures. We have recruited monitors familiar with their specific neighbourhoods, with insights particular to their deployment area gained from participating in a registered Neighbourhood Watch or the previous Walking Bus programme.’
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The City urges the public to make use of its toll-free tip-off line. Rewards of up to R5 000 can be claimed for information leading to the arrest of anyone targeting City staff with extortion or damage to City facilities. Anonymous tip-offs are also welcome. Call 0800 1100 77.
Tips received by the dedicated tip-off line are relayed to the relevant City agency. Once an arrest or confiscation is made, the agency will submit an application for consideration by the Rewards for Information Committee. Keep in mind that reward payouts could take several weeks or months, subject to administrative processes. The system is not open to people under the age of 18.
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