Cape Town - Safety kiosks aimed at reducing crime and tackling local security concerns would be implemented around Cape Town as part of a partnership between the City and the Western Cape government said mayor Patricia de Lille on Thursday.
“I wish to thank the Department of Community Safety for donating these kiosks, which allow us the flexibility to deploy them where they are most needed,” said De Lille.
“I also want to thank them for partnering with us to assist members of the communities in playing an active role in the identification and resolution of safety concerns,” said De Lille.
Safety kiosks – structures from which law enforcement officers would operate – would be implemented around the city to assist in community policing.
The safety kiosks would provide the officers with a space from which to conduct their work and increase visible policing.
De Lille said the first phase of the safety kiosk roll-out would occur in areas of the Cape Flats including Hanover Park, Manenberg, Grassy Park, and Tafelsig.
“This will ensure the availability of call-up systems during incidents such as gang flare-ups, illegal protests and illegal land invasions,” said De Lille.
To ensure “the effectiveness and operational success” of the safety kiosk initiative, De Lille said the City had donated R4.5 million for the implementation of an Expanded Public Works Programme and strengthening relations between officers and the communities in which they serve.
The donation of safety kiosks by the provincial government followed an allocation of R2.5 million to the City’s Safety and Security Directorate in January 2015.
The R2.5 million, said De Lille, had been used to train over 100 Law Enforcement Auxiliary Officers who would assist in policing communities.
De Lille also welcomed the establishment of the office of the ombudsman which would investigate issues of poor service delivery by the police.
ANA