DA WC committed to rural safety

In response to my parliamentary question regarding the province’s recently launched Inter-Ministerial Rural Safety Committee, it was revealed that over R25-million has been allocated for district safety plans across all five districts in the province. The districts’ Safety Plan is unique to each district as it takes into account the specific safety challenges that communities in each of the districts face.

These efforts by the province come at a time where farm attacks and rural safety concerns have seen a year-on-year increase. I welcome the approach by the provincial government in the design of safety plans to protect our agricultural sector and farming communities. Instead of a generic, one-size-fits-all approach, the province coordinates a specific plan based on the relevant Integrated Development Plan, SAPS crime statistics and trends, a safety audit, and other local sources of rural safety within specific communities.

As Chairperson of the provincial Standing Committee on Agriculture, I will continue to provide oversight on the developments of the Inter-Ministerial Rural Safety Committee and invite the relevant provincial authorities to provide an update on developments on-the-ground.

The Safety Plan per area aims to address the underlying causes of crime, ensuring an integrated response to crime prevention and law enforcement. This means that all spheres of government need to cooperate along with the residents and Community Policing Forums. I’m also pleased to learn that every stakeholder in the plan must take responsibility and account for their role in the safety plan.

The DA in the Western Cape remains committed to the safety of all rural communities and that of our food security in the province.