– Crime in De Aar is getting out of control.
– Community safety depends on a whole of society approach.
– Emthanjeni must cooperate with SAPS and safety stakeholder to fight crime.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in De Aar has requested the Emthanjeni Municipal Manager to establish a municipal safety team to work alongside the South African Police Service (SAPS), Community Policing Forums (CPFs), neighbourhood watches and other stakeholders to combat escalating crime in the town.
The request follows the municipality’s glaring absence from a Local Crime Imbizo held last week, where SAPS together with safety stakeholders gathered to discuss growing safety concerns and possible solutions.
Despite crime being one of the community’s most pressing challenges in town, neither municipal officials nor the ANC-led Council attended the meeting. The DA was the only political party represented.
This was particularly concerning given discussions around organised drug syndicates and gang activity, residents’ fears of reporting crime, rising levels of substance abuse, and the role that unemployment and poverty play in fuelling criminal activity. Participants also highlighted poor street lighting, overgrown public spaces that provide cover for criminals, and limited community involvement in crime-prevention efforts.
Emthanjeni cannot expect residents to play an active role in fighting crime while local government itself is absent. Community safety also cannot continue to be treated as someone else’s responsibility.
While policing remains the primary responsibility of SAPS, municipalities have a critical role to play in creating safer communities. This includes maintaining public infrastructure, repairing streetlights, clearing overgrown areas, enforcing by-laws, supporting crime-prevention initiatives and coordinating local safety responses.
The DA has therefore called for the establishment of a dedicated municipal safety team to coordinate efforts between SAPS, CPFs, neighbourhood watches and other stakeholders. Such a structure would help ensure a more integrated and effective response to crime in De Aar.
The DA is already identifying public spaces that can be cleaned to improve visibility and safety. However, creating a safer environment cannot be achieved by one organisation alone.
Strong cooperation between SAPS, local government, schools, community organisations and residents is essential to reduce crime, tackle substance abuse, and make De Aar safer for all.