Stakeholders to refine Mitchell’s Plain safety plan ahead of budget deadline
Teacher, social service professional, and chairperson of the Portland Community Safety and Development Foundation, Ashwin Johnson, says job-sharing initiatives provide families with stability and food security.
Image: Marsha Bothma
Stakeholders involved in the Mitchell’s Plain Safety and Development Plan will meet again to fine-tune the draft and finalise key priorities ahead of the September deadline for submitting the completed strategy and budget.
The follow-up meeting, scheduled for Saturday, 16 August, aims to bring together community organisations, law enforcement, and government departments to work towards a safe, empowered, and resilient Mitchell’s Plain, free from the grip of gangsterism.
One of the recent discussions was held on Wednesday, 23 July, at Mitchell’s Plain police station. This formed part of a series of meetings convened by the MEC for police oversight and community safety, Anroux Marais, in response to the recent surge in gang violence.
Michael Jacobs, chairperson of Mitchell’s Plain United Residents Association, speaks to the role of surveillance technology, but warns that it needs consistent funding and training to be effective.
Image: Marsha Bothma
Hilton Arendse, acting head of the Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety, said the process is about alignment and collaboration.
“There are proposed projects on the table, but nothing has been finalised. This stage is about agreeing on priorities and getting immediate input on ways to strengthen the plan.” He said the ultimate goal was to dismantle the gang economy.
The plans include fostering partnerships among government, business, and civil society; creating safe environments for youth; reducing harm related to violent crime; strengthening community cohesion; addressing socio-economic drivers such as unemployment and poverty; and enhancing visible policing.
AB Isaacs, chairperson of the Cape Flats Safety Forum, emphasised the importance of unity between community policing forums, neighbourhood watches, and broader civil society movements, saying the strategy must advance without delay despite existing differences.
AB Isaacs, chairperson of the Cape Flats Safety Forum, emphasises the importance of unity between community policing forums, neighbourhood watches, and broader civil society movements.
Image: Marsha Bothma
Teacher, social service professional and chairperson of the Portland Community Safety and Development Foundation, Ashwin Johnson, said job-sharing initiatives provide families with stability and food security.
“When people have work and their families are cared for, it changes the household narrative,” he said, calling for stronger support for grassroots organisations within the community.
Michael Jacobs, chairperson of Mitchell’s Plain United Residents Association, spoke on the role of surveillance technology but warned that it needed consistent funding and training to be effective.
Social justice activist Tyrone Parks cautioned that high unemployment, exclusion of some business owners, and visible drug activity were a "ticking time bomb” if not addressed, adding that young people remained absent from these conversations.
With the September deadline drawing closer, Mr Arendse said any programmes must be sustainable, targeted to high-risk areas, and open to adjustment as the strategy evolved.