The City indicates that the proposed budget includes funding for hiring an extra 222 Law Enforcement Facility Protection Officers (FPOs) within the Escort Service Unit. These officers will support various municipal divisions in executing city initiatives in regions identified as high risk.
Slightly more than R100 million has been allocated, with funding coming from multiple directorates such as Water and Sanitation, Energy, Urban Waste Management, and Human Settlements.
During the seven-month span from September 2024 to March 2025, the City’s Law Enforcement Department assisted with 1 925 escorts for different service units—an average of 275 each month.
We've noticed a steady rise in demands for safety escorts, which the data reflects. The link between service quality and regions labeled as red zones is clear-cut, impacting various sectors including fundamental services, fire response, and disaster evaluations.
"While certain risks stem from the increasing frequency of extortions, others represent blatant instances of opportunistic behavior. We should praise our law enforcement agencies for their diligent work under challenging conditions; however, we must enhance our current capabilities to more effectively address this rising demand," stated JP Smith, who serves as the Mayco member responsible for safety and security.
In May 2023, the Municipality introduced the FPO program aimed at safeguarding employees, initiatives, and municipal premises, with an emphasis on areas known for high criminal activity.
The first rollout involved 81 Law Enforcement FPOs; nonetheless, the significant increase in demands for escort services led to the reallocation of resources away from regular policing duties to assist these FPO units, as stated by the City.
To stabilize operations and alleviate pressure on Area Law Enforcement personnel, the proposed budget includes funding for an extra 222 FPOs for theEscort Service Unit.
"The assaults on employees and City contractors continue unabated, encompassing extremely grave offenses such as armed robbery, carjacking, and regrettably, even homicide. The impact on our regulatory operations must also be acknowledged, especially considering the numerous pressing requirements for both our time and resources. We urge citizens to actively engage with community service providers' security—should you witness anything suspicious or have information, please report it," stated Smith.
Cases of criminal activity should be reported to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre at 021 480 7700.
Alternatively, the public can share tips for a potential reward via the City’s 24-hour tip-off line on 0800 110 077.
Cape Times