Safety programme launched to tackle gang violence
Western Cape Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais said the programme marks a shift toward prevention, focusing on addressing the underlying drivers of crime.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane
The Western Cape Government has launched a new community-level safety and development programme in Mitchells Plain, positioning it as a response to entrenched gang violence and deep-rooted social challenges on the Cape Flats.
The initiative, announced during the 2026/2027 budget speech by Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, combines law enforcement with targeted social interventions aimed at youth, families and at-risk communities.
The rollout comes against a backdrop of persistent violence in Mitchells Plain, where multiple shooting incidents have left residents dead and injured in recent years, according to previous reporting.
Marais said the programme marks a shift toward prevention, focusing on addressing the underlying drivers of crime.
“This innovative approach focuses on prevention by investing in people, particularly our youth and families, through trauma-informed interventions, targeted development programmes, and strengthened community partnerships,” she said.
“It recognises that safety is a shared responsibility and that sustainable change requires coordinated action across all sectors of society.”
At the centre of the initiative are pilot interventions designed to disrupt the cycle of violence early.
These include a Street Coach programme to mentor young people, mediate conflict and guide youth toward positive life choices, as well as structured, trauma-informed holiday programmes for children aged five to 15 to provide safe environments during high-risk periods.
The department will also enlist youth social media influencers to promote positive behaviour online, while working with economic partners to unlock skills development and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people.
The department said the programme aims to deliver measurable outcomes, including stronger family support systems, reduced substance abuse, improved community cohesion and more responsive law enforcement.
It will also target key drivers of violent crime, including gangsterism, extortion and the proliferation of illegal firearms.
Previous reporting and community feedback have consistently highlighted that crime in areas like Mitchells Plain is often underreported, with residents reluctant to come forward due to fear and gang control, creating a gap between official statistics and lived reality.
Similar youth-led initiatives have been reported in neighbouring communities such as Manenberg, where young people are working alongside authorities to develop localised crime prevention responses.
A key component of the new programme is the establishment of the Mitchells Plain Safety and Development Forum, which will guide implementation on the ground.
The forum is chaired by Abie Isaacs, with Pastor Mark Bloemstein as deputy chairperson, alongside a team responsible for youth development, economic opportunities, communications and safety coordination.
Marais thanked members of the forum for stepping forward.
“Your commitment, leadership, and willingness to be part of the solution embody the very essence of a whole-of-society approach,” she said.
Isaacs welcomed the initiative, describing it as a partnership-driven effort to bring about lasting change.
“This forum represents the collective voice of the people of Mitchells Plain, and I encourage every resident to get involved in this inclusive effort in making Mitchells Plain a safer, more resilient community,” he said.
He added that the forum would work with government departments and stakeholders to align interventions, strengthen coordination and deliver sustainable outcomes.
The forum has already been registered as an entity and has begun engaging stakeholders to strengthen existing programmes and attract investment aimed at improving youth employability and unlocking local economic opportunities.
Mitchells Plain is among Cape Flats communities that have long experienced high levels of violent crime, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing authorities.