Joint safety operations between the City of Cape Town and the South African Police Service (SAPS) will be the order of the day this festive season, reports Cape {town} Etc.
In light of this, a joint safety parade was held in the city centre on Friday, 13 December, marking the first major public safety initiative since the signing of a cooperation agreement between SAPS, the City and the Western Cape Government (WCG) earlier this year.
According to the City, the massive display included a parade of officers with their service animals, a convoy of vehicles and an exhibition on the Grande Parade of City and SAPS vehicles and equipment.
Over 870 of the City’s Project 1 000 cadets also participated in the parade, with the event marking their formal appointment as Learner Law Enforcement officers.
In joining the more than 4 000 permanent, uniformed enforcement and emergency personnel, the cadets are contributing to the City’s largest-ever safety deployment over the festive season.
Feeling energised by the cooperation on display on Friday, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the 876 cadets would bolster the ranks of the City’s ‘record festive season safety deployment‘.
‘These officers will be deployed across the city at our most popular beaches, mountain and hiking routes, tourist hotspots, CBDs, roadblocks by the Random Breath Taking Unit and more,’ said Hill-Lewis.
‘Next year, these officers will complete the metro police part of the learnership, and we wish them well in their endeavours.’
The City further explained in a statement that the integrated safety operations with SAPS and other safety and security structures will focus on economic zones, with some of the cadets bulking up the visible enforcement presence in the Wynberg, Bellville and Mitchell’s Plain CBDs.
Other priority areas will include public recreation areas and continued collaboration in high crime precincts.
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‘We’ve also set up numerous joint operations centres in various parts of the metropole to coordinate the efforts of the various agencies involved, and ensure the best possible outcomes for the public,’ added City’s MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith.
‘Apart from the resources on the ground, the City will also lean into its technological investments as a force multiplier. Our CCTV footage, for example, is available to SAPS for investigative purposes, and the rollout of dash and body cams provides another layer in the fight against crime,’ said Smith.
‘Smart policing is the way of the future, and equally smart is sharing resources across agencies to achieve results.’
Sharing the sentiment, SAPS Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile said he is confident that their collective presence through the various joint operational activities is already felt in some precincts ‘as we strive to create safer communities’.
‘We have entered this festive season period stronger than before with our integrated deployments in force executing much-needed, intelligence-led operations,’ said Patekile.
‘Thanks to the cooperation agreement that enables us to tap into each other’s expertise and resources as we take the fight against crime to the doorstep of the criminal element.’
Patekile also added that SAPS detectives will also be on hand during the festive season to investigate reported cases and ensure suspects are brought before courts.
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook
