Making communities safer

Crime has a severe impact on the quality of life of all South Africans, particularly the poor. High levels of crime also efforts to stimulate growth, increase investment and reduce poverty.

Over the past year, we have continued to direct significant resources and effort to fight crime and keep communities around the country safe.

Government continues to visibly increase police presence on the streets as further deterrent to criminal activities, especially in crime hotspots. We have increased the number of police personnel, and 12 000 new police trainees have been recruited to ensure that the South African Police Service (SAPS) urgently gets the capacity it needs.

We have appointed new leadership in the SAPS, Hawks, NPA and State Security Agency to ensure the stability, integrity and capability of these key crime-fighting bodies.

• An additional 12 000 new police personnel have been recruited to ensure the SAPS has the capacity it needs, and a further 10 000 will be recruited and trained this year.
• Specialised multi-disciplinary units have been established to address economic sabotage, extortion at construction sites and vandalism of infrastructure.
• Multi-disciplinary economic infrastructure task teams are now operational in 20 identified hotspots.
• Community policing forums will be re-established to improve relations and coordination between local police and residents.
• The National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide is being implemented.
• Our security services are developing implementation plans to address the range of recommendations made by the expert panel into the July unrest.