 | Drakenstein Municipality and safety partners tackle lawlessness with new, dedicated public safety department
12 December 2023 | Press Releases |
12 December 2023
With the safety of residents being a top priority for Drakenstein and its safety partners, Drakenstein Municipality recently took the bold step of establishing a new department solely dedicated to public safety.
Operational since 1 November 2023, the public safety department is headed up by the newly appointed executive director, Eda Barnard. Formerly the Chief Director: Performance Monitoring and Support at the Western Cape Department of Local Government, Barnard brings 23 years of experience to the field of local governance. Having worked in all three spheres of government, her expertise spans municipal governance, knowledge management, infrastructure development, basic service delivery, and municipal support and training.
“Our department’s vision is to coordinate and mobilise all Drakenstein’s safety partners and, in doing so, optimise our diverse expertise. When all role-players bring their expertise to the table within their respective legal mandates, we will make a stronger collective impact when tackling crime, especially as we enter the festive season,” says Barnard.
This festive season, the new department will ramp up the Municipality’s Safer Festive Season Readiness Plan, involving traffic services, law enforcement and fire services. The Municipality will use available safety technology such as cameras and work closely with partners such as the Community Policing Forums (CPFs), neighbourhood and farm watches, the South African Police Service (SAPS), private security firms, and intelligence agencies.
Alderman Conrad Poole, Executive Mayor of the Municipality, says: “Drakenstein Municipality recognises our community’s safety as a top priority, even more so during the holiday season. We are taking strict measures to tackle lawlessness. With the establishment of the new department and appointment of the new executive director, our renewed focus on public safety is getting momentum.”
Another step in improving public safety is the establishment of the new Drakenstein Community Safety Forum (DCSF), a volunteer-based community safety organisation which will replace the former Drakenstein Smart Safety Network (DSSN).
The Municipality’s public safety department will collaborate closely with the DCSF, which was formally established during a Safety and Security Workshop, held in Paarl in October this year. It was facilitated by tactical and safety expert, Major General Roland de Vries, former Deputy Chief of the South African Army and author of books such as Eye of the Firestorm.
A broad spectrum of safety and security stakeholders from across Drakenstein attended the workshop to discuss and flesh out a way forward for tackling crime in the area. The workshop attendees included representatives from farm and neighbourhood watches, CPFs, private security firms, civil rights organisations such as Action Society and AfriForum, and the Municipality’s Law Enforcement and Traffic Services units.
Major General De Vries said: “It is envisaged that the DCSF will work closely with Drakenstein municipal authorities, the SAPS and other relevant role-players and stakeholders such as organised business, private security companies, and civil rights and agricultural organisations.”
These changes signify a promising future for public safety within the Drakenstein municipal area.
The Municipality encourages the public to be its eyes and ears on the ground and report any safety-related concerns to their nearest police station or the Municipality’s Law Enforcement division at 021 807 8508 (all hours).
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Issued by: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
