CAPE TOWN – African National Congress (ANC) Western Cape Spokesperson Khalid Sayed said that the failure of the Community Safety and Police Oversight Department is a result of a lack of support from multiple stakeholders in the province.
Sayed’s comments come after Premier Alan Winde announced his new cabinet on Thursday.
Reagen Allen, who served as the MEC for Community Safety has been replaced.
Allen’s removal comes as the Western Cape experiences an increase in crime, particularly in the townships.
Extortion-related incidents, a construction mafia running rampant, gang violence, and mass murders are some of the concerning crimes the province has experienced recently.
Meanwhile, Sayed said the failure to address crime in the province cannot be attributed to Allen alone.
“Yes there’s been a massive rise in crime, community safety has not done very well. But then again in our view at the level of the province, it’s a multi-pronged approach. It requires the cooperation of various departments. It cannot be labelled purely on Community Safety.”
According to Sayed, if Allen had been supported by his premier with enough resources and strategic planning, things might have been different.
EWN
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