Community Safety
Whether his Department has any contingency plans in place to ensure the safety of citizens while land grabs are taking place in Philippi, Gugulethu and other areas; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
The Department’s contingency plans with regards to safety of citizens are guided by the Constitutional mandate given to provinces as it relates to policing in that province. Policing remains a National competency and the province has no direct control or command over the day-to-day operations of the police.
The role of the department is therefore focused on determining the policing needs and priorities of the various communities and to use our oversight functions, as stipulated in section 206 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa read with section 66 of the Constitution of the Western Cape, to ensure that the police respond to the safety and security needs highlighted by communities.
The Department continues to oversee police stations within its oversight mandate. In addition, my Department also continues to support and attend meetings which are called by Community Police Forums and Neighbourhood Watch structures.
