The city of eThekwini is renowned for its year-round warm climate, pristine beaches, rich Zulu heritage, and welcoming community. These unique attributes have long made Durban an attractive destination for investors and tourists alike.
However, in recent years, the appeal of this economic hub in KwaZulu-Natal has waned due to issues such as beach contamination, declining tourism, water supply difficulties, rising crime rates, deteriorating infrastructure, and challenges in maintaining cleanliness.
To restore eThekwini’s prominence and prosperity, President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the eThekwini Working Group (PeWG) in April 2024. The PeWG is a multi-stakeholder initiative designed to tackle critical challenges related to service delivery, infrastructure, and socio-economic development. Its ultimate objective is to reposition eThekwini as a premier investment and tourism destination.
This Working Group includes representation across all three spheres of government, the private sector, and labor organizations.
Addressing crime, a significant deterrent to tourism and investment, has been prioritized. The South African Police Service (SAPS), in collaboration with eThekwini Metro Police, has intensified crime-fighting initiatives, deploying additional personnel to enhance visibility and public safety.
Between 1 October and 15 November 2024, a substantial deployment comprising over 31,491 SAPS officers and 1,538 metro police officers was undertaken in eThekwini to boost community safety through high-intensity operations. These operations continued throughout the festive season.
Speaking exclusively to SAnews, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi emphasized that the collaborative efforts between SAPS, Metro Police, and other law enforcement agencies are delivering tangible results.
“Working together, we’ve significantly pushed back against crime through enhanced patrols, improved intelligence collection, and proactive operations. Our aim is to create a safe, conducive environment for businesses, enabling them to thrive and generate employment opportunities for residents,” said Mkhwanazi.
According to the PeWG progress report, business confidence in eThekwini surged by 24.59% in 2024, rising from 38.42% in the first quarter to 63.01% by the third quarter.
“We greatly appreciate the national government’s intervention via the Working Group. Collaboration with other government departments, particularly those focusing on tourism and security, has resulted in increased recruitment of metro police officers, ensuring more boots on the ground. Additionally, new SAPS constables have been strategically deployed to crime hotspots, successfully reducing criminal activities,” Mkhwanazi added.
Consequently, residents now enjoy increased safety, evident from early morning joggers frequenting the beachfront as early as 4 am, assured by round-the-clock law enforcement presence.
“Our blue light patrols ensure maximum visibility, especially after dark, making it easy for citizens to approach law enforcement. We’ve also expanded foot patrols to areas not easily accessible by vehicles, and we’ve procured motorbikes and bicycles to patrol beachfronts and urban areas more effectively,” Mkhwanazi explained.
These comprehensive operations have contributed to a noticeable uptick in tourism and business confidence. Furthermore, partnerships with private security firms safeguarding businesses have bolstered security measures city-wide.
In November last year, the city announced the transfer of its CCTV cameras from Disaster Management to the Metro Police Unit and Fire and Emergency Unit to improve crime-fighting capabilities and disaster response coordination. The Emergency Mobilising and Communication Centre (EMACC) and associated technical functions now fall under the Information Management Unit in the Office of the City Manager.
“Previously, camera management by Disaster Management posed operational challenges for law enforcement. With this transition, police now have immediate access, significantly reducing response times. Officers monitoring these cameras can swiftly direct ground personnel, greatly enhancing our crime response capabilities. These improvements underscore the effectiveness of the Working Group, highlighting technology’s crucial role in combating crime,” Mkhwanazi concluded.
Between 1 October and 15 November 2024, the intensified operations resulted in 1,500 arrests, including 150 undocumented individuals, 322 arrests for illegal firearm possession, and the recovery of 58,949 illegal drugs.
Facebook Comments