Finance and Economic Opportunities
Question by:
Hon Cayla Murray
Answered by:
Hon Mireille Wenger
Question Number:
2
Question Body:
With regard to the Tourism Safety Unit:
- (a) How many active members does this unit have, (b) what is the budget for this unit, (c) what (i) training and (ii) resources have the members received to date and (d) what are members of this unit authorised to do to prevent crime;
- whether there is a need to expand the unit; if so, what are the relevant details?
Answer Body:
I am advised of the following:
- The Tourism Safety Law Enforcement Unit currently comprises of 28 Law Enforcement Officers. These officers are in addition to other safety personnel deployed around Cape Town by the City and the Cape Town Central City Improvement District.
- In the 2020/21 financial year[RB1] , the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) funded the start-up costs related to the establishment of the Tourism Safety Law Enforcement Unit. The funding for the Unit in the 2022/23 financial year [RB2] [IVS3] is provided by the Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety and the City of Cape Town, and the budget should be requested from them directly.
- (c)(i)(ii) The officers are qualified and trained law enforcement officers and have also received additional training from DEDAT tourism staff as it relates to tourism safety, visitor in distress protocols as well as additional tourism related visitor information skills. The officers are not just responding to criminal activity but also providing much needed services and information sharing as it relates to tourism safety tips at key tourism hotspots which prevents incidents from occurring.
- The Unit is authorised to do the following:
- Conduct patrols in key tourism hotspots
- Assist tourists in distress or who need assistance ito other visitor services
- Stop and searches
- Issue section 56 and 341 fines as per the municipal by-laws
- Issue compliance notices
- Make arrests with SAPS as it relates to illegal activity
- Respond to specific complaints as it relates to tourists
- Work with key law enforcement and tourism partners such as SANPARKS, DEDAT, Cape Town Tourism etc.
- The Units capacity has just been increased. Any further expansion will be dependent on the need and will require additional budget for capex and opex related costs.
Date:
Friday, December 2, 2022
