Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says province is reaping the rewards of targeted crime-fighting strategies
Responding to the newly released national crime statistics, Winde highlighted ongoing progress in historically high-crime areas such as Nyanga, Delft, Philippi East, and Khayelitsha.
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The Western Cape has now recorded its fourth consecutive quarterly decrease in murder cases.
Winde attributes much of this success to the law enforcement advancement plan, or LEAP, which has bolstered the police presence in hotspot communities.
"Both Minister Marais and I are encouraged by the consecutive decrease in the western cape's murder rate. We saw a further 4% decrease in overall murder rates of the western cape for the fourth quarter; this follows the 7.9% decrease in quarter three and the 8.7% decrease in quarter two."
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7 days ago
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Western Cape Premier Alan Winde told the gathering that R400 million worth of public infrastructure projects stalled in the province by the end of 2024 due to criminal interference. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers Extortion has emerged as a critical threat to development, public services, and the safety of residents in the Western Cape, according to Premier Alan Winde and Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais. Their remarks came during a high-level Anti-Extortion Summit held in Cape Town on Tuesday, where officials gathered to address the escalating issue. Hosted by the Western Cape Government, the summit brought together law enforcement, business leaders, civil society, and multiple government departments in a bid to confront what officials described as a 'systemic and organised' campaign of criminality. It comes amid growing concern that extortion syndicates are paralysing infrastructure projects, intimidating communities, and undermining job creation. Winde told the gathering that extortion has effectively 'strangled economic growth', with roughly R400 million worth of public infrastructure projects stalled in the province by the end of 2024 due to criminal interference. 'This is intolerable,' he said. 'We must recommit to working closer together to hit back at these criminals. One way in which we can do this is by giving provinces and municipalities more of a say in policing, adequately resourcing the SAPS in our province, with crime intelligence being significantly bolstered, and by properly capacitating the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).' Marais said extortion has evolved into a serious economic and security crisis, threatening livelihoods, delaying service delivery, and destabilising entire sectors. 'Extortion is a direct threat to livelihoods, small businesses, infrastructure development, and public services,' she said. 'It undermines the rule of law, instills fear in communities, and leaves many of our residents despondent.' The growing trend of gangs demanding 'protection fees' from construction companies, business owners, and even public transport operators has created an environment of fear. 'They are not just stealing money,' Marais added. 'They are stealing opportunities which are critical to economic participation and job creation.' The summit saw government and civil society stakeholders commit to a stronger, more coordinated response to organised extortion. A dedicated multi-sectoral structure will be formed to drive anti-extortion strategies across departments and agencies. Improved data-sharing and the enforcement of last year's Collaboration Agreement between the SAPS, the City of Cape Town, and the provincial government were also highlighted as immediate priorities. Premier Winde said public-private cooperation would be crucial to dismantling extortion networks. He also reiterated the Western Cape's longstanding call for policing powers to be devolved so that local government can respond more effectively to organised crime.
IOL News
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Premier Winde announces intensified efforts against extortion in Western Cape
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Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading One of BACSA's key crime-fighting tools is its Eyes and Ears Initiative (E2), a technology-driven platform that links private security companies and other vetted partners with SAPS command centres. According to Paulse, this network uses surveillance tech such as drones and licence plate recognition to bolster real-time law enforcement responses. 'The private security industry outnumbers the police service 4:1. We are using that geographical footprint to increase the operational response and awareness of the SAPS,' said Paulse. He added that the Western Cape is 'the first province that has E2 controllers in all 6 policing districts.' Premier Winde reinforced the need to outpace criminals by embracing innovation. 'Criminals are using technology. We have to be one better than them.' Beyond tech solutions, Winde reiterated the importance of community involvement through neighbourhood watches and community policing forums. 'There is no doubt that residents who form or join NHWs know more about what is going on in their areas than anyone else, and they form essential partnerships with SAPS and municipal law enforcement,' he said. Paulse echoed this view, saying, 'We call it 'community-oriented policing'. That is what we are promoting.' Ahead of the digicon, Winde also chaired a meeting of the Western Cape Provincial Safety Council, where he welcomed a recent proposal by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to give metro law enforcement agencies more authority. 'This is a positive step forward, we must all be obsessed and driven by the same thing: to build a safer, prosperous province and country,' the Premier said. The council also received updates on the Safer City Collaboration Cooperation Agreement signed in August 2024, which is focused on strengthening intelligence-sharing and operational coordination between SAPS, provincial departments, and the City of Cape Town. 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Extortion costs Western Cape economy nearly half a billion
During an anti-extortion summit, the Western Cape government heard of R400 million in stalled infrastructure projects. Image: File EXTORTION-related crimes are effectively 'strangling economic growth', with roughly R400 million worth of public infrastructure projects stalled in the province by the end of 2024 due to criminal interference, says Premier Alan Winde. He made the remarks during a recent high-level Anti-Extortion Summit attended by law enforcement agencies, business leaders, civil society, and multiple government departments in a bid to confront what officials described as a 'systemic and organised' campaign of criminality. The summit comes amid growing concern that extortion syndicates are paralysing infrastructure projects, intimidating communities, and undermining job creation. Winde told the gathering that extortion was no longer a shadow crime, but a direct threat to development, public services, and lives in the Western Cape. 'This is intolerable. We must recommit to working closer together to hit back at these criminals. One way in which we can do this is by giving provinces and municipalities more of a say in policing, adequately resourcing the SAPS in our province, with crime intelligence being significantly bolstered, and by properly capacitating the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA),' he said Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais said extortion has evolved into a serious economic and security crisis, threatening livelihoods, delaying service delivery, and destabilising entire sectors. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'Extortion is a direct threat to livelihoods, small businesses, infrastructure development, and public services. It undermines the rule of law, instills fear in communities, and leaves many of our residents despondent.' Some of the cases include gangs demanding 'protection fees' from construction companies, business owners, and even public transport operators. 'They are not just stealing money. They are stealing opportunities which are critical to economic participation and job creation,' said Marais. Winde said public-private cooperation would be crucial to dismantling extortion networks. A dedicated multi-sectoral structure will be formed to drive anti-extortion strategies across departments and agencies. Improved data-sharing and the enforcement of last year's Collaboration Agreement between the SAPS, the City of Cape Town, and the provincial government were also highlighted as immediate priorities. In the build-up to the summit, the Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety launched a province-wide survey to gather sector-specific insights into the nature and reach of extortion. The deadline for participation was extended to June 4 to ensure broader engagement.
