Premier
With regard to the implementation of Western Cape Safety Plan:
(a) What progress has been made on each of the responsibilities assigned to Ministers Under Ministerial Responsibilities, (b) what measures has been put in place to monitor implementation of the responsibilities and (c) what has been the remedial action, if any, for those that have failed to implement these responsibilities?
The Western Cape Safety Plan was always intended to be an iterative and working document to respond to challenges faced, when and where they arise. This is in keeping with ensuring an evidence-based and data-led approach to the Safety Plan.
The COVID-19 pandemic took a severe toll on us all and required that we as a Provincial Government realign our priorities to save lives and jobs. We then created the Western Cape Recovery Plan which includes the Western Cape Safety Plan under its Safety Priority. The progress as reported in this reply, looks at the immediate safety interventions and their progress, as stated in the Recovery Plan.
It is important to note that the policing mandate primarily resides with the South African Police Service (SAPS) under the ambit of the National Government, with some law enforcement capabilities given to municipalities and provincial traffic services. The Western Cape Safety Plan is a supplementary resource established to ensure a safer Western Cape.
Through its Area Based Teams (ABTs), the Western Cape Safety Plan aims to bring together law enforcement agencies, the social sector and urban design to reduce violence in high crime areas. It aims to do so by better using data and evidence and by strengthening collaboration at a local level. This approach is aligned to international and local evidence of what works in reducing violence.
The Departments of Community Safety; Cultural Affairs and Sport and Social Development were given the responsibility to lead the 2019-2024 Provincial Strategic Plan (PSP) Vision-inspired Priority (VIP) 1 Safe and Cohesive Communities. The Safety Priority was articulated further in the Western Cape Recovery Plan, published in March 2021.
(a) The Department of Community Safety (DOCS) has deployed 721 LEAP members and 110 Commanders, giving a total of 831 members in 10 high crime areas in the Province. A total of 725 of these LEAP members are deployed in the eight top murder precincts in the Province, namely, Kraaifontein, Harare, Delft, Nyanga, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha (Site B) and Gugulethu (Reaction Unit).
DOCS also accredited 51 Neighbourhood Watch structures during the 1st quarter of 2021 (Q1). The annual target is 100.
A total of 1005 Youth Safety Ambassadors have been recruited, selected and placed in work opportunities at schools (WCED), SAPS, Department of Health, Municipalities and Community Based Organisations. We have trained 111 youth to date. The Chrysalis Academy also appointed 11 youth hub ambassadors to expand the Academy’s footprint and support youth in the identified communities.
To decrease the harmful effects of alcohol misuse, the Department is in the process of reviewing the Western Cape Liquor Act to reduce alcohol harms, whilst minimising the impact on the economy. The amendment proposals are informed by local and international research and evidence.
With the support of other Provincial Government Departments, the criminal justice sector and local municipalities, DOCS is in the process of establishing Area-Based Teams (ABTs) in 16 priority areas of which the Bishop Lavis ABT is the most formalised.
The ABTs bring together multiple departments, agencies and stakeholders at a local level in identified hotspots for crime and GBV to jointly tackle local safety challenges. Services are better coordinated and, as a result, services and their impact are strengthened.
The Department of Social Development (DSD) chairs the Provincial Safety Social Cluster stream as well as the Social Sector Crime Prevention stream. This falls under the social sector focus of the ABT. The Department of Social Development’s services rendered include:
(i) Parent and caregiver educational and training programmes that contribute to children and families at risk;
(ii) Assessment of children in conflict with the law (youth at risk);
(iii) Referral of children in conflict with the law to diversion programmes;
(iv) Victims of crime and violence accessing services at Victim Empowerment Shelters; and
(v) Victims of crime and violence accessing psychosocial support.
A key aspect of the Department of Social Development’s involvement in the Safety Plan has been to strengthen these services and their impact by coordinating them through the ABTs which bring together multiple departments, agencies and stakeholders at a local level in identified hotspots for crime and GBV.
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) is responsible for the coordination of the Youth-In-Service programme, which will be scaled up to increase opportunities for unemployed youth aged 18-24 in accessing the important first work opportunity. Additional after school programmes will be targeted to reach at-risk youth who currently do not always attend these programmes, to reduce anti-social behaviours and school dropouts.
The Western Cape Government has scaled its Youth-In-Service Programme, YearBeyond and in 2021 has provided 1000 youth (up from 500 in the previous year) with a first work opportunity.
There are plans to scale this to 3000 youth in 2022 if national funding is made available. The youth in the programme work in the provincial government, libraries, schools, community hubs and NGOs offering much-needed services to over 20 000 children. At the same time, they are supported with a personal and professional development plan to ensure they develop their professionalism, emotional intelligence and growth mindsets and can progress into work or study at the end of the 1-year opportunity.
DCAS is also coordinating a transversal youth learning lab and has developed norms and standards to ensure quality youth programmes are offered across the Western Cape Government and its partners.
Additional after school programmes will be targeted to reach at-risk youth who currently do not always attend these programmes, to reduce anti-social behaviour and school dropouts.
DCAS has also scaled up its after school programmes and now provides opportunities for after school activities in 400+ schools (up from 246). It has targeted learners at risk of dropout due to learning losses and failing behind academically with YearBeyond and learners with anti-social behaviours through its scouting in school and various other NGO programmes.
(b) Indicators are monitored on a quarterly basis by Safety and Wellbeing Manco meetings and workstreams.
The Department of Community Safety enters into transfer payment agreements annually with the City of Cape Town (CoCT) on LEAP and with the Chrysalis Academy which outline the monthly and quarterly targets and timeframes. These reports are reviewed regularly between the Department and the CoCT; and between the Department and the Chrysalis Academy through the implementation of governance protocol engagements.
DSD services are rendered by DSD local offices and funded NPOs and monitored by Senior management of DSD or in the case of NPOs via contract management and DSD monitoring and evaluations teams to ensure compliance with norms and standards as per relevant legislation including the Children’s Act or Child Justice Act.
DCAS progress is tracked through monthly and quarterly performance reports. Quarterly progress reports are submitted to the Accounting Officer to monitor the progress of the process.
(c) There are measures in place within the departmental programmes to mitigate shortfalls.
