The City of Cape Town has been working on an operational plan to mitigate the risk of public unrest, amid ongoing scenes of violence and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. The City appeals to the public to refrain from spreading fake news on the looting and unrests.
To date, there has been no indication of similar incidents in Cape Town, even though a poster started circulating on social media late yesterday, warning of a shutdown protest in the city.
We are also aware that some shopping malls have closed as a precautionary measure, although there is no imminent threat at this point.
There was some panic caused earlier today when police responded to an incident of theft at a mall in Mitchell's Plain. Some people started running in panic, and these images started circulating on social media. There was no looting or violence, and police arrested the suspects.
‘I appeal to the public to please help us stop the spread of fake news regarding false reports of public violence in Cape Town, which is based on old videos that are circulating. This is making it difficult for law enforcement to adequately respond to safety incidents. We all need to work together to ensure our city remains safe and the sharing of outdated videos, pictures and unconfirmed reports has the potential to leave communities vulnerable by unnecessarily diverting resources where it is needed most,’ said Executive Mayor Dan Plato
The City acknowledges that there is a growing sense of anxiety among residents who fear that the violence could spill over into Cape Town.
‘It is important to state upfront, that the South African Police Service is responsible for public order policing. However, the City’s enforcement agencies work in support of SAPS at all times, with operational responsibilities coordinated via the Provincial Joint Operations Centre. In the past 24 hours, a number of engagements have taken place to compile operational contingencies should these be required,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
While we cannot disclose specific details, the City would like to inform the public that:
- A list of potential targets has been compiled, to ensure regular patrols in these areas
- All Area Chiefs across our Metro Police, Law Enforcement and Traffic Service have been tasked with drafting integrated deployment plans in areas that could potentially be targeted
- Staff on rest days will be activated to ensure as many resources on the ground as possible
- Staff will be activated after hours, if need be
- Redeployment of staff from other areas or functions will be considered/implemented if need be
- CCTV surveillance will be used to capture any incidents, to identify any suspects and to help mobilise ground forces
‘The City will do everything in its power to support policing efforts should the need arise. However, we call on the national government to act decisively to address the ongoing violence elsewhere in the country. As a city that is already dealing with a number of enforcement priorities and risks to public safety, amid the third wave of Covid-19 infections, Cape Town can ill afford the scenes that have been broadcast on our television screens and via social media in recent days,’ added Alderman Smith.
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Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 1311 or Cell: 083 675 3780, Email: jean-pierre.smith@capetown.gov.za (please always copy media.account@capetown.gov.za)
Media enquiries: Lyndon Khan, Mayoral Media Officer, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 417 0693 or Cell: 076 186 8719, Email: lyndon.khan@capetown.gov.za (please always copy media.account@capetown.gov.za)