Western Cape to allocate R4 billion towards crime-fighting

CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape government says it will allocate almost R4 billion to bolster crime fighting and prevention efforts in the province.

This was announced during the tabling of the province's 2025/26 budget on Thursday.

Western Cape crime statistics for the third quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year showed a reduction in crime in the province.

The stats also showed that murder decreased by 7.9%.

Finance MEC Deidré Baartman said more than R1.3 billion of the funds will go towards the Law Enforcement Advancement Programme, K9 units, and Law Enforcement Reaction units.

She said programmes to help victims of crime will also be boosted.  

"The Department of Social Development will receive R235,238 million over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for victim empowerment programmes to support gender-based violence, victims of violence, particularly women and children. They will be allocated R822,186 million over the MTEF for child protection services."