Cape Town: Safety and Security Department launched a dedicated deployment in the Cape Town CBD in July 2022. Similarly, last year the deployment was rolled out in the Bellville, Wynberg and Mitchells Plain CBDs as they paved the way for proposed dedicated ward resources which were included in 2025-26 draft budget.
The CBD focused deployments began in Cape Town Central in July 2022, with 100 dedicated officers to supplement existing crime prevention efforts. It was due to the sharp increase in crime post Covid in the CBD.
Later this model was replicated in Bellville, Mitchells Plain and Wynberg in June 2024 with 24 Law Enforcement officers and 24 Metro Police officers across the three CBDs.
Moreover, between Dec 2024 and Feb 2025, the three teams assigned in these four areas worked closely with other entities for three months, that resulted in 441 arrests and nearly 3000 motorists screened for drunk driving. They also recorded 26,266 traffic and 4,316 by-law offences.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security – Alderman JP Smith stated that the statistics are encouraging, and the discount value of present enforcement is visible, which always with simple metrics.
Apart from acting as a deterrent, these officers have an opportunity to know the areas and the people as well as the particular challenges. Smith also added that this kind of intelligence is far more difficult to gather using standards reactive policing methods, as just another reason for why dedicated resources in any area is a plus point.
As per the sources, the Safety and Security has proposed dedicated Metro Police area teams considered in its draft budget, flowing from the CBD deployment model. In terms of proposal, every ward in Cape Town will receive its own dedicated group of qualified and equipped Metro Police officers.
The teams will adopt a community policing and evidence based policing approach, by working closely with South African Police Service (SAPS), neighbourhood watches and other community structures to understand and respond to the unique challenges in their ward.
Alderman Smith expressed that he is very excited about this proposal, and if given green light, it is something that they will be able to get off the ground fairly and quickly, as courtesy of their investment in Project 1000.
The recruits have already completed their Law Enforcement qualifications and are currently completing the additional training to qualify as Metro Police officers. “We often speak of our ongoing investments in public safety, and this is yet another example of spending the money where there is a need,” said JP Smith.