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IDP to guide city effort on Public Safety

31 May 2017

 

The City of Joburg is to implement several key strategic safety measures in the coming financial year to considerably increase public safety and create secure communities throughout its seven regions.

 

The detailed measures are spelt in the 2017-2018 Integrated Development Plan (IDP), which was recently approved by the council following more than 30 community engagement meetings across the City’s seven regions in March and April.

According to the 340-page IDP document, the City’s commitment to decisively tackle crime will be coupled with “a reinvented, honest and motivated Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) as a key part of building a caring, safe and secure City for all”.

To achieve its objectives, the City, under the leadership of Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba has identified key priorities that need to be rolled out, including the:

  • Recruitment of an additional 1 500 JMPD officers to adequately meet the City’s policing challenges;

  • Empowerment of JMPD with resources to conduct increased law enforcement operations such as drug sweeps and roadblocks; 

  • Expansion of JMPD's K9 Narcotics and Tactical Unit with additional dogs and officers;

  • Capacitation of the unit with high-calibre firearms and high-performance vehicles; 

  • Launch of mobile station command centres across all regions to improve visible policing, response times and accessibility; 

  • Capacitation of municipal courts to deal more effectively with by-law infringements; and

  • Promotion of overall adherence to City by-laws and traffic regulations.

To realise its objectives, the City has allocated a capital expenditure budget of more than R153-million in the 2017-2018 financial year.

“The City [will] also maintain safe environments by curbing illegal dumping and preventing environmentally unsafe practices that can negatively impact on the wellness of residents. Appropriate by-laws and regulations, as well as service delivery that keeps environments safe and clean, are other key interventions to create a caring and safe city,” reads the IDP document.

The City has further committed itself to assisting the South African Police Service (SAPS) to make communities safer.

The most recent crime statistics paint a concerning picture, with reported contact crimes such as sexual assault, murder and common robbery showing a 3.3% increase in Gauteng – from 167 264 in 2015 to 172 814 in 2016.
The IDP document says this situation denies communities the right to live in safe environments, free from fear.

“It is essential that a society-wide approach is applied to combating incidences of crime. As the City of Joburg, we are committed to fostering strategic partnerships with and between our communities, all law enforcement agencies, spheres of government and safety partners to realise a safer and more peaceful Johannesburg,” the document states.

The City says collaborative partnerships and better utilisation of its Integrated Intelligence Operations Centre (IIOC) could play a significant role in reducing crime.

Of JMPD’s 2017-2018 citywide and regional capital expenditure budget, the IIOC, which is presently undergoing development, is to receive a cash injection amounting to R100-million for the implementation of its second Phase.

The city has also allocated JMPD R12-million for a new radio communication system to enhance security communications and incident response. The plant will be based in Region F but will service all regions.

JMPD will also spend R3-million on the acquisition of firearms for the 1 500 new recruits.

Traffic and by-law enforcement centres at the Wemmer Pound in Selby and Fennel Road Pound in Martindale will be spruced up at a cost of R3-million each.

The JMPD’s Marlboro cash site will be upgraded and secured at a cost of R2-million.

The Roodepoort and Randburg drivers testing stations will be refurbished at a cost of R1.3-million each; while the Licencing Renewal One-Stop Shop at Langlaagte will be upgraded at a cost of R4.3-million.

Other JMPD capital expenditure highlights for the 2017-2018 financial year include:

  • R488 000 for the acquisition of new horse boxes;

  • R95 000 for alterations to the Dog Kennel Hospital in Glenesk;

  • R2-million for lighting masts at the Wemmer Pound;

  • R2-million for the upgrading of weighbridges at the JMPD Marlboro Testing Station; and

  • R5.2-million for improvements to lighting at JMPD's Johannesburg, Midrand, Randburg, Roodepoort and Wemmer complexes.

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