More resources are needed to increase visible policing on the streets of downtown Cape Town to secure ongoing investment, says Tasso Evangelinos, CEO of the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID).
Tasso’s comments follow Cape Town Executive Mayor Dan Plato’s announcement at a function on Greenmarket Square on 15 April that 18 new Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) would be deployed across the Cape Town CBD.
Mr Plato said the deployment was in addition to the R165 million already budgeted for increasing law enforcement efforts across the metropole. The 18 officers will be deployed in Long Street and the Grand Parade. This brings the number of law enforcement officers in the CBD to 62.
He said: “We have noted concerns about safety within the CBD and we want people to feel safer, so what you see today is part of our direct attempt to address crime and will hopefully result in an improvement in responding to incidents of crime in the CBD. We believe the extra officers will help bolster efforts to address crime in the CBD.”
MORE RESOURCES NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE CBD’S SUCCESS
Tasso applauded the Executive Mayor’s decision and said the CCID was looking forward to working closely with the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement team. He said: “We greatly appreciate the Executive Mayor’s efforts to increase the visible policing of the CBD as the Central City needs to be maintained to encourage business investment and tourism to promote continued economic growth in downtown Cape Town.”
However, the CCID believed “far more resources” were needed. “The Cape Town Central City has come a long way from the crime and grime scenario it had fallen into in the late 1990s, to once again become a safe, clean and caring urban environment. To maintain the CBD’s success, we need to maintain our standards.”
The critical importance of sustaining safety and security in downtown Cape Town was emphasised at the Greenmarket Square function by City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith. Unlike other South African cities, Cape Town’s CBD was central to the tourism economy of the greater city and it was important that it was a safe environment. He said: “In Cape Town, the CBD is a key part of our tourist attractions; it’s where many of our big hotels are and is critical to our tourism infrastructure. Tourism drives the economy in Cape Town to a large extent along with film shoots and events that also depend on a safe CBD.”
TOURISM UNDER THREAT
CCID manager of Safety & Security Muneeb “Mo” Hendricks also welcomed the Executive Mayor’s announcement saying it was “definitely a step in the right direction” and showed the City was “serious about fighting crime”. However, he pointed out that as the 18 new officers would be deployed on a 24-hour shift roster, the current teams would only be boosted by four members per shift. “This is definitely not enough to adequately and effectively secure the Central City with its average daily footfall of over 250 000 people, which excludes residents living in the CBD, the number of whom has more than doubled over the years.”
Echoing JP Smith’s concerns, Mo added that petty crime, mostly aimed at tourists, was on the increase. “Tourism is an important industry in the Western Cape employing thousands and if this sector goes into decline, it could mean job losses for many people.”
Mo said the CCID was committed to supporting the City in its efforts to effectively secure the CBD and making it a safe space for everyone.
CITY ADDRESSING CRIME
At the ceremony, Mr Plato said the South African Police Service (SAPS) remained the primary law enforcement agency responsible for safety but it had been “under-resourced for a number of years”. “We are taking proactive steps to address crime in the CBD and work with the SAPS and all safety partners to address safety concerns,” he said.
Commenting on the unveiling of the new LEOs, Dave Bryant, Ward 115 councillor, which includes the CBD, said it was "fantastic" news. He commended Mr Plato for listening to concerns and acting "swiftly" to ensure all users of the CBD were "looked after".
IMAGES: Scott Arendse, CCID Online Coordinator