The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) wholeheartedly supports the motion to devolve policing powers to the City of Cape Town.
This motion was tabled to the City of Cape Town Council yesterday and received overwhelming support.
The motion requests national government to transfer investigative powers, crime intelligence and forensic laboratory functions (particularly for firearms) to Cape Town.
It applies to crime categories such as gang violence, firearm offences, extortion and drug trafficking. The aim is to empower the city’s metro police to support the national police force.
This step is particularly critical in light of the national police crisis.
Detectives are under immense pressure due to the police’s backlog with case dockets.
At some of the police stations dealing with the highest murder rates in Cape Town, a single detective may have to manage between 300 and 500 dockets. It is clearly a system that is no longer functioning effectively.
The Freedom Front Plus is hopeful that transferring policing powers to the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate, with the expert support of the Safety and Security Investigation Unit (SSIU), will significantly improve crime prevention in the city.
Last week, an interview with former Major-General Jeremy Vearey revealed how gangs have infiltrated the highest levels of the Western Cape police, with crime intelligence leaking to gang leaders’ attorneys, which resulted in the death of an informant.
The expertise of the SSIU will help curb this corruption and the murder of witnesses.
The Freedom Front Plus is proud to support this motion and calls on national government to collaborate with the city in ensuring Cape Town residents’ safety.
The party’s main driving force is its commitment to justice and community safety.
