Premier Winde urges immediate action to improve safety in the Western Cape

Khayelitsha Police Station has 73 detectives, with 25 have access to laptops and workstations, with each detective is responsible for an average of 333 case dockets, an unsustainable caseload.

This was revealed during an oversight visit  by Premier Alan Winde, who chaired a meeting of the Western Cape Provincial Safety Council on February 11, in order to receive progress updates and drive stronger coordination between the provincial government and key safety stakeholders in response to persistently high crime levels.

“Safety is everyone’s responsibility. But as a provincial government, this priority is paramount because of the devastating impact crime has on our communities and our economy. South Africa  and the Western Cape continue to grapple with unacceptably high levels of crime," he said.

Representatives from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement briefed the council on strengthened joint operations, particularly targeting violent crime and gangsterism. Improved coordination and intelligence-sharing are central to these efforts.

Winde emphasised that enforcement alone will not solve the crisis, “While bolstering day-to-day policing is critical, we must also tackle crime at its roots. That means accelerating economic growth and creating more jobs."

Days leading up to the council meeting, Winde conducted oversight visits at several police stations across the province.

At the Bonnievale Police Station, Station Commander Captain Konrad Mathysen highlighted operational needs.

Winde said while the station has sufficient vehicles, he called for faster turnaround times for the servicing of patrol vans to maintain visibility and response capability.

Following a tour of the precinct, the Premier met with members of the Bonnievale Community Police Forum (CPF) and congratulated them for being named first-place CPF of the Year in the inaugural 2024/25 Western Cape Community Police Board Excellence Awards, as well as secured third place in the category “Best Use of Technology in Community Policing.”

Junet Adendorf, a CPF member who also received individual recognition at the awards said: "Across Bonnievale, more than 150 CCTV cameras have been deployed and are monitored through a local security company. “This is yielding results.”

In Cape Town, the Premier continued his oversight programme at the Khayelitsha Police Station, where severe under-resourcing was identified as a major obstacle.

He said the station has 73 detectives, yet only 25 have access to laptops and workstations. Each detective is responsible for an average of 333 case dockets, an unsustainable caseload.

“SAPS officers cannot win the fight against crime without the tools they need. We will continue to push for fair and adequate resource allocation to Khayelitsha and to the Western Cape as a whole. Our communities deserve a police service that is properly equipped and supported.”

In November, Benedicta van Minnen MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Police Oversight and Community Safety revealed the shocking caseload that detectives were dealing with.

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Cape Argus