The vision of eThekwini being among the safest cities in the world could soon be realised as the City became one of 10 pilot cities to activate the Integrated Safer Cities Project, which aims to use technological interventions to fight crime.
Deputy
Minister of Police, Mr. Cassel Mathale together with KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport,
Community Safety and Liaison Mr. Bheki Ntuli and Ethekwini Municipality Mayor
Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda during the launch of Integrated Safer Cities Project
launch.
The Integrated Safer Cities Project was launched by Deputy Minister of Police, Mr. Cassel Mathale together with KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liason Mr Bheki Ntuli, eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda and South African Police Service National Commissioner General Khehla Sithole at Dr JL Dube Sportsfield in Inanda on 20 November. Its aim is to create an environment that enhances social and economic transformation in South Africa through building of partnerships between communities and government in policing.
The initiative follows a dedicated integrated and multi-stakeholder approach aimed towards achieving safety through technology and other relevant platforms in order to achieve a smart city. It was implemented in Durban specifically at Inanda, which is among local areas recorded as crime hotspots because of high numbers of reported cases of sexual offences.
Recent crime statistics released by Police Minister Bheki Cele indicated that eThekwini's three townships - uMlazi, Inanda and KwaMashu are amongst the leading hotspots for sexual offences in the country. Stats also revealed that eThekwini contributes more than 45 percent towards crime in KwaZulu-Natal, hence the implementation of this crime-fighting programme was welcomed by all stakeholders.
During the Integrated Safer Cities launch, which stems from the national Crime Prevention Strategy with the intention of preventing and decreasing crime rates in major cities, a first-of-its-kind Fusion Centre in Africa was unveiled. Its purpose is to maintain and establish a platform for information sharing through a collaborative approach amongst stakeholders through evidence led information. In addition, the centre aims to provide an improved response to coordinated planning to deal with any eventuality.
Utilising state-of-the-art technology, the Fusion Centre, located at eThekwini's Disaster Management Centre, allows for integration of stakeholders from various disciplines, systems and software, coupled with extensive research and development.
During the Safer Cities Project launch, Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda welcomed this innovative crime-fighting programme to be first implemented in the City and being specifically launched at an area like Inanda where efforts are being made to arrest the alarming levels of crime through collaboration with key stakeholders.
He said the Safer City initiative has been prioritised as one of the critical government interventions that will contribute extensively towards the economic growth of the country. ''The local government sphere is a pinnacle where development and innovation take place. People's aspirations for a better life is centered around Cities.''
Kaunda said as a springboard and in preparation for this project, the City launched Community Safety Forums (CSF's) and Local Drug Action Committees (LDAC's) whose core mandate is to build trust and strengthen relations between communities and law enforcement agencies.
''The structures, to be eyes and ears of government to ensure they respond timeously to crime issues, is earmarked to heighten community awareness on safety issues while encouraging community cohesion; and will provide a platform for community members to voice their concerns regarding safety in their area because each ward has different crimes and a one size fit all response can't work.''
''Our aim is to ensure safety in our communities in order to attract investments. It would be extremely difficult to attract tourists in an area like Inanda if it remains a hotspot for serious crimes such as sexual offences and murders,'' he said.
The CSFs and LDAC structures, established in all eThekwini wards will undergo training in the beginning of year 2021 to ensure they are all better capacitated and delivers on their mandate.
The introduction of these community safety structures is in line with the principles of eThekwini Municipality's Integrated Development Plan which aims to ensure that all citizens live in a safe, healthy and secure environment. The structure is expected to work hand in hand with the Safer Cities project stakeholders in fast-tracking the vision of ''Together building a Safer, caring and livable City for All''
Expected outcomes are to ensure effective policing through community participation, better relationship between the community and the police, empowered community, community driven programmes to address drugs which lead to reduced number of drug addicts, substance abuse and drug related crime as well as any kind of crime.
Community member and founder of the Gugu Dlamini Foundation that helps fight Gender Based Violence, Mandisa Mabaso said she is pleased with the dedication from the Mayor in youth development programmes and crime fighting strategies. ''I hope the community will be encouraged to work together with law enforcement agencies''.
Mayor Kaunda pleads with communities to pull their weight and rally behind CSFs and LDACs. ''The success of the newly introduced Safer Cities crime-fighting programme can only be determined by the efforts and inputs of all stakeholders.''
The objectives of Ward Community Safety Forums and Local Drug Action Committees are as follows:
