Cape Town's Crime Rate Faces Challenge as Combined Safety Operation Intensifies

The Community Policing Forum (CPF) of Muizenberg and Steenberg, Cape Town, joined forces with various law enforcement agencies on August 26th to begin a powerful new initiative to combat crime. Supported by the Community in Blue initiative, Metro Police, Traffic Services, and local police, this considerable endeavor commenced from Muizenberg Civic Centre.

"Crime will no longer take our streets hostage," vowed Muizenberg CPF Deputy Chair, Ashwin Abrahams, firmly establishing the patrol's main goal to increase police visibility and significantly shrink criminal activity in the areas. This joint patrol, which included an impressive convoy of 40 vehicles, is a testament to the team's dedication to providing a safer environment for its community.

The operation covered high-crime zones such as Vrygrond, Seawinds, Costa Da Gama, Lavender Hill, Steenberg, Hillview, and Coniston Park. CPF Chair, Derrick Muller, highlighted a shifting pattern of criminal activity to areas lacking neighborhood watches, particularly targeting Muizenberg village and the marina. “Our precinct reaches as far as Kalk Bay, where implementation of a neighbourhood watch is urgent as visibility is a powerful deterrent to crime," he stated.

Highlighting the potency of this combined effort, Muller shared, “We want to reveal to criminals our force when we unite, to let them see what they’re up against.” Patrolling not only disrupted criminal activity but was even able to provide crucial medical help to a distressed local resident suffering an asthma attack, proving the patrol's comprehensive approach to community care.

Berenice Naidoo, part of the Community in Blue and Chair for the Seawinds Neighbourhood Watch, shared how the patrollers also addressed minor offences like the theft of dirt bins in the Seawinds and Lavender Hill regions while identifying home invasion, vehicle break-ins and illegal dumping as the most prevalent crimes.