Cape Town: The Community Services and Health Directorate is responsible for more than 8000 properties. These properties mainly include parks, cemeteries, clinics, libraries and premises leased to Early Childhood Development Centres.
Reportedly, the Directorate has decided to invest hundreds of millions of rand each year for on-site security and the hardening of facilities. This is going to be implemented to safeguard the facilities, staff and the public.
The Community Services and Health Directorate comprises four departments i.e.:
- City Health
- Community, Arts and Culture Development (CACD)
- Library and Information Services
- Recreation and Parks
As per the report, the public facilities which are managed by these departments, in number are as follows:
- 3,556 public parks
- 206 community centres/recreation hubs
- 164 sports grounds
- 101 libraries
- 91 clinics, including satellite and mobile facilities
- 72 coastal nodes (beaches)
- 40 cemeteries
- 39 premises leased by Early Childhood Development Centres
- 38 swimming pools
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham said that they are under immense pressure to keep all of these facilities functioning and in good condition.
Apart from regular, planned maintenance to address wear and tear, they face daily challenges of illegal dumping, theft and vandalism. As witnessed recently at the Lwandle Library when it was vandalised twice in one week.
Higham mentioned that there is also very real impact of violent crime on operations, from gun violence to attacks on facilities and incidents of hijacking, which regularly forces the closure of the City of Cape Town facilities for the safety of staff and patrons.
The security budget and upgrades need to be viewed in the context of these challenges, but also the sheer number of facilities in the Directorate that require safeguarding.
In the previous 12-month cycle, the Directorate spent R25.1 million on fencing repairs and maintenance. In addition, capital expenditure for new fencing and security upgrades totaled nearly R10 million. This included fencing, access control gates, alarm systems, roller shutter doors and the installation of bulletproof windows at facilities like Leonsdale and Gugulethu Clinics.
A similar amount has been budgeted for this financial year, along with R389 million in operational budget for day-to-day security services.
Councillor Francine Higham further stated, “We’re investing in the safety of our clinics, libraries, parks and other facilities to ensure they remain open and accessible for generations to come. With thousands of public spaces to protect, we rely on strong partnerships with communities to prevent theft and vandalism.”
“Let’s work together to protect what’s ours. Facilities with active community involvement and ownership experience fewer security breaches and setbacks, so I call on everyone to lend a hand in looking after their particular community assets,” added Higham.
Moreover, the report damages or suspicious activity will be revealed as soon as possible and speak out against the few who put entire communities at a disadvantage with their selfish acts of vandalism and theft.