After meeting with CSPS, community-based safety structures in CT hope for improved relationship with SAPS

CAPE TOWN - Community-based safety structures in Cape Town say they're hoping for improved working relationships with the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The relationship between these entities has taken a knock in recent years due to a lack of trust, a shortage of personnel within SAPS, corruption, and socioeconomic factors that make communities protect gangs.

This while crime has been escalating in the Cape, with an increase in deadly violence linked to gangs, extortion, and taxi-related feuds.

Community-based crime-fighting structures in the metro are calling for more support from government to help them carry out their duties.
 
At a meeting with the Civil Secretariat of Police Service (CSPS), Director-General Thulani Sibuyi in Khayelitsha on Tuesday, members from various safety structures complained about the lack of resources and dangerous working conditions they are working under.

They also criticised government for holding talk shops on crime that never come up with solutions.

Nyanga CPF chairperson Martin Makasi: "Our people are tired of being invited to these kinds of sessions. They raise their frustrations, senior government officials leave, and when they leave, they don't take along the problems with them, they leave the problems with us here. So, we still have to deal with those challenges."

The Civil Secretariat of Police Service has promised to continue engagements with the safety structures to find solutions to their grievances.