A year ago, the City availed an additional R100 million for enforcement escorts amid increased attacks on staff and service providers. Even with the additional resources, demand has exceeded supply.
In 2024/25, the City’s Law Enforcement Department facilitated an average of 275 escorts per month to various service departments.
In 2025/26, the monthly average was 890.
Key clients are Water & Sanitation; Energy; Urban Mobility; Urban Waste Management; Human Settlements and Community Services and Health.
Service requests are prioritised based on the particular risk rating of an area.
Currently, 16 policing precincts are prioritised – risks include violent crime threats like gang violence, hijacking and robbery, and extortion.
‘The increased need for escort duties to line departments is but another indicator of the complete disregard that criminals have for their communities and those who are trying to deliver services. The cost is immense, but the cost of not having the escort unit in place to protect staff would be even greater. Last November, we also established an anti-hijacking unit (AHU), specifically to cover Khayelitsha, Strand and surrounds in an effort to curb hijacking incidents of City-owned vehicles, ‘ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith’
The City is tracking attacks on staff, vehicle hijackings and extortion attempts daily through its Safety and Security Information Management Services.
The Safety and Security Investigation Unit has registered 292 extortion related cases between 12 June 2017 and 22 April this year.
‘So apart from investing in human resources for escorts, we are also trying to work smarter to end this threat, but the toll on the directorate is significant due to increased overtime requirements because service delivery takes place 24/7. Urgent reform is required within the criminal justice system to help municipalities deliver basic constitutionally mandated services to communities.
‘We also call on the public to help where they can, by sharing information that can reduce the risk or track down criminals, and I also call on the South African Police Service and the NPA to start prioritising this threat with urgency. The failures of the criminal justice system to remove these criminals from society is having severe consequences, if they cannot do it, then they must allow local government the legal right to conduct investigations so that we can start catching and convicting the syndicates behind these attacks,’ added Alderman Smith.
Incidents of crime can be reported to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700.
Alternatively, the public can share tips for a potential reward via the City’s 24-hour tip-off line on 0800 110 077.
