Police Oversight and Community Safety
With reference to the recent announcement of “Safe Zones” being launched in Mitchells Plain:
- Whether her Department has finalised an implementation framework for the Safe Zones Initiative in Mitchells Plain; if not, why not; if so, what are the key (a) time-lines and (b) deliverables associated with the rollout in the identified areas;
- what criteria were used to identify the five initial Safe Zones earmarked for the rollout;
- whether the dedicated Safe Hubs have already been identified in each of the five pilot areas; if not, when will these sites be confirmed; if so, what are the relevant details;
- (a) what role will LEAP officers play in the operationalisation of the Safe Zones Initiative and (b) how many personnel will be assigned to support the initiative in each of the five identified areas;
- whether any monitoring and evaluation framework has been developed to assess the effectiveness of the Safe Zones Initiative; if not, why not; if so, what indicators will be used to measure success
- whether her Department will expand the Safe Zones Initiative to other gang-affected communities in the province should the pilot programme prove successful; if not, why not; if so, which areas are under consideration?
(1) The Mitchells Plain Safety and Development Forum (MPSDF) Business Plan was approved by the Acting Head of Department, Mr Hilton Arendse, on 26 March 2026.
The Safe Zones Initiative forms part of this broader programme and aims to create secure and supportive environments within communities. These zones enable residents, particularly vulnerable groups such as youth, to access services, support, and opportunities free from violence and criminal influence.
The initiative responds to persistent socio-economic and safety challenges, including high levels of violent crime, substance abuse, youth disengagement, and limited access to psychosocial support services.
Implementation of Safe Zones is undertaken through coordinated efforts across key programme workstreams, including Integrated Violence Prevention, Safe and Secure Communities, and Governance and Partnerships. This ensures collaboration between government, civil society, and community stakeholders.
(a) Five Safe Zone areas were identified for implementation:
- Montrose Park (Lentegeur)
- Beacon Valley (Mitchells Plain)
- Tafelsig East (Mitchells Plain)
- Rocklands (Mitchells Plain)
- Strandfontein (Strandfontein)
Progress to date is as follows:
- Montrose Park (Lentegeur) – established on 23 May 2026
- Strandfontein (Strandfontein) – established on 29 May 2026
- Tafelsig East (Mitchells Plain) – established on 30 May 2026
The timelines for the remaining two Safe Zones are:
- Beacon Valley (Mitchells Plain) – date to be confirmed
- Rocklands (Mitchells Plain) – date to be confirmed
(b) The Safe Zones Initiative is expected to deliver the following outcomes:
- Reduced exposure to crime and violence;
- Increased access to safe spaces for youth and community activities;
- Improved community cohesion and trust, and
- Enhanced long-term safety and community resilience.
(2) The Safe Zone areas were identified based on a combination of factors, including high levels of crime and violence, socio-economic vulnerability, the prevalence of at-risk youth, limited access to support services, and the potential to implement coordinated, multi-sectoral interventions in partnership with community stakeholders.
(3) Dedicated Safe Hub sites within the five identified Safe Zone areas have partially been identified. At present, Safe Hubs have been established in three of the five pilot areas as part of the initial rollout phase, aligned to the operationalisation of Safe Zones. These are:
- Montrose Park (Lentegeur) – operationalised on 23 May 2026
- Strandfontein (Strandfontein) – operationalised on 29 May 2026
- Tafelsig East (Mitchells Plain) – operationalised on 30 May 2026
These sites function as focal points for coordinated service delivery, community engagement, and programme implementation within each Safe Zone.
The remaining two pilot areas, namely:
- Beacon Valley (Mitchells Plain);
- Rocklands (Mitchells Plain), and
are still in the process of final site identification and confirmation. The selection of appropriate Safe Hub locations in these areas is dependent on ongoing engagements with local stakeholders, assessment of suitable facilities, and alignment with safety and accessibility requirements. Confirmation of these sites is expected once due diligence processes, including feasibility and partnership arrangements, have been concluded.
(4) (a) LEAP officers are not specifically assigned to the Safe Zones.
(b) 119 LEAP officers are currently assigned to the Mitchells Plain police precinct.
(5) A monitoring and evaluation framework has been developed as part of the broader Mitchells Plain Safety and Development Programme to assess the effectiveness of the Safe Zones Initiative.
The framework is aligned with the programme’s integrated, multi-sectoral approach and is designed to track progress against key safety, social, and developmental outcomes. Monitoring is undertaken through coordinated reporting, stakeholder engagement, and performance tracking across the identified Safe Zone areas.
The following key indicators are used to measure success:
- Reduction in crime and violence:
Trends in reported crime and safety incidents within the Safe Zone areas. - Access to services:
Increased utilisation of social, psychosocial, and victim support services within Safe Zones. - Youth participation and development:
Number of youth engaged in structured programmes, education support, skills development, and employment initiatives. - Community engagement and cohesion:
Levels of community participation in Safe Zone activities and strengthened partnerships between stakeholders. - Programme implementation outputs:
Establishment and operationalisation of Safe Zones and Safe Hubs, including delivery of planned interventions. - Perception of safety:
Improved community perceptions of safety and trust in local safety initiatives.
This framework enables ongoing assessment of both implementation progress and the longer-term impact of the Safe Zones Initiative and supports evidence-based decision-making and continuous programme improvement.
(6) The Department intends to expand the Safe Zones Initiative to other gang-affected communities in the province, subject to the outcomes and lessons derived from the current pilot phase in Mitchells Plain.
The pilot programme is designed to test an integrated, multi-sectoral model for community safety, combining violence prevention, social support, youth development, and partnership-driven interventions. Should the initiative demonstrate measurable improvements in safety outcomes, service delivery, and community resilience, it will inform the scaling of the model to additional high-risk areas.
While no final decisions have yet been taken on specific locations, areas under consideration for future expansion would include communities experiencing similar challenges, such as high levels of gang activity, violent crime, socio-economic vulnerability, and limited access to support services.
The identification of future sites will be guided by evidence from the monitoring and evaluation framework, crime and vulnerability data, as well as consultation with relevant stakeholders, including municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and community structures.
