During the demanding seven-month period from September 2024 through March 2025, the City’s Law Enforcement Division recorded a concerning total of 1,925 safety escorts across different service units, with each month seeing approximately 275 escort cases on average.
The City said this increase is not just a statistic, but reflects a pressing reality faced by City officials, service employees, and, ultimately, the communities they serve.
"We've noticed a steady rise in demands for safety escorts, as the figures indicate," stated JP Smith, who serves as the Mayco member responsible for Safety and Security.
There is a clear connection between the standard of services provided and regions labeled as red zones, spanning various sectors including essential utilities, fire response, and emergency evaluations.
He explained that the increase in these requests could be due to several reasons: some risks come from widespread extortion targeting staff members, whereas others emerge from spontaneous criminal activities occurring against the backdrop of growing instability.
The launch of the Facility Protection Officers (FPO) programme in May 2023 represented a focused approach to protect employees, initiatives, and municipal buildings, especially in areas with high criminal activity. The initial deployment included 81 Law Enforcement Facility Protection Officers. The city swiftly acknowledged the urgent requirement that demanded reallocating resources from regular policing tasks to reinforce these safeguarding initiatives. .
To tackle this issue and alleviate the strain on local law enforcement personnel, the proposed budget includes provisions for allocating resources towards hiring an extra 222 Facility Protection Officers as part of an Escort Service Unit. The objective of this programme is to support different city departments in executing municipal initiatives in zones with elevated risk levels. It will secure more than R100 million through financing provided by multiple directorates such as Water & Sanitation, Energy, Urban Waste Management, and Human Settlements,” explained Smith.
Smith stated that the impact on enforcement services should not be overlooked, considering the competing demands for their time and resources. He urged inhabitants to stay alert concerning the protection of individuals delivering crucial services.
“If you see or know something, speak up. We have numerous reporting channels, including our anonymous tip-off line, where criminal activities can be reported.”
Residents have the option to report criminal activities to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre by calling 021 480 7700. Moreover, individuals with information leading to potential rewards should contact the City’s 24-hour tip-off line at 0800 110 077.