Call for public support for #MorePolicingPower

In this City, we have taken the decision that we will not be held hostage by the failings of national Police Minister Bheki Cele. Sign our petition calling on the National Minister to grant the City of Cape Town more policing power.

 

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has written to the national minister to request additional powers under Section 99 of the Constitution, for the City to have a fully-fledged police service who can investigate crime and ensure criminals are put behind bars.

 

Minister Cele has previously said that he cannot devolve power in the absence of a constitutional amendment. However, Section 99 provides that "a Cabinet member may assign any power or function…to a Municipal Council.”

 

The City is doing everything within its limited resources and ability to make our City safer for all residents. This financial year, the City is implementing a record R5.4bn safety budget, with 230 additional officers being employed in this cycle, and significant investments into crime-fighting tech.

 

With the Western Cape Government, we have deployed 1 100 new officers in 12 communities affected by high crime rates. Four of them – Gugulethu, Philippi East, Mitchells Plain and Elsies River – no longer feature among the top 30 murder hotspots in the country.

 

BUT…there is so much more we can do with greater police powers granted by Minister Cele. We need your support to show that the residents of Cape Town want local government to have a greater ability to keep YOU safe.