Would devolution of policing help reduce crime in Western Cape?

CapeTalk’s John Maytham speaks with senior researcher at The Dullah Omar Institute, Dr Jean Redpath.

Listen below:

The most recent crime statistics show a decrease in the murder rate, although it remains shockingly high.

The City of Cape Town and Western Cape Government are pushing for devolution of certain policing powers to local law enforcement, to cope with crime in the province.

They say the Memorandum of Understanding between the city, the province, SAPS, and the minister allowing for this must be expedited.

In order for devolution to be successful, Redpath says there needs to be significant trust in the police, which is a problem in South Africa.

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“Policing is all about trust and what we have seen in South Africa is an absolute collapse in trust in policing.”

- Dr Jean Redpath, Senior Researcher at The Dullah Omar Institute 

However, she says that Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers in the Western Cape did lead to a reduction in crime, meaning there could be value in devolution.

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