Western Cape allocates R998,000 to Community Police Forums and funds Neighbourhood Watch groups

The Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety's Annual Report 2024/25 revealed that 480 Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) groups were accredited with 259 in 2024/25) and that 81 Community Police Forums (CPFs) received R998,000 to improve oversight and public participation in local policing.

Key achievements highlighted in the Annual Report include:

• Youth Empowerment: 682 young people were supported through the Chrysalis Academy, where they received crucial life, leadership, and employment skills. These initiatives directly align with the Provincial Government's objective of restoring dignity and well-being within communities.
• Community-Led Safety: The accreditation of 480 Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) groups (259 of which were accredited in the 2024/25 financial year alone) has significantly strengthened community-led safety efforts.
• Enhanced Oversight: 81 Community Police Forums (CPFs) collectively received R998,000 to improve oversight and public participation in local policing..

Benedicta van Minnen, MPP, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Police Oversight and Community Safety, said the annual report demonstrated a strategy that involves targeted investments in communities, safety infrastructure, and youth development initiatives in areas most affected by crime.

“The Western Cape Government is stepping up because our communities are under siege. While the constitutional mandate for policing rests with the South African Police Service (SAPS),” she said.

“We are currently facing a crisis in police management and leadership. However, the Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety has demonstrated what a well-managed, organised, and efficient department can achieve within its mandate. 

“By empowering youth, supporting law enforcement, and collaborating with communities, we are building a safer, more dignified future for all residents of the Western Cape."

Municipal safety partnerships are also backed by substantial funding. 

The City of Cape Town received R360 million to recruit, train, equip, and deploy law enforcement officers to priority communities, with an additional R5.4 million specifically allocated to support Peace and Law Enforcement Officer training.

Additionally, four district municipalities in the province each received R1 million, with the Central Karoo District Municipality receiving R581,000, to implement swift, coordinated responses to potential social unrest through local safety plans. In 2024/25, the Department also provided over R12 million in total support to K-9 Units in Swartland, Overstrand, and Mossel Bay.

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