The City of Cape Town is ramping up its safety escort services as attacks on staff and service providers continue to rise, particularly in high-risk areas. Over a seven-month period between September 2024 and March 2025, the City’s Law Enforcement Department facilitated 1,925 safety escorts — an average of 275 per month — to ensure the protection of personnel and operations across departments.
According to Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, the increasing demand reflects the growing threats faced by municipal workers in so-called “red zones”. Smith said statistics show an continued increase in requests for safety escorts, affecting departments from basic services to firefighting and even disaster assessments.
“There is a direct correlation between the quality of services and areas considered red zones. Some of the threats are linked to extortion, while others are acts of brazen opportunism. Our enforcement services are doing commendable work under very difficult conditions, but we need to augment our resources to meet demand,” said Smith.
To address this, the City has made provision in its draft budget for an additional 222 Facility Protection Officers, forming part of a dedicated Escort Service Unit. This unit will support internal departments as they roll out essential services in high-risk communities. The expansion comes at a projected cost of just over R100 million, to be covered by various directorates including Water & Sanitation, Energy, Urban Waste Management, and Human Settlements.
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The Facility Protection Officer initiative was first launched in May 2023 with 81 officers deployed to protect City staff, infrastructure, and projects. However, the surge in escort requests has since placed a heavy burden on Law Enforcement staff, requiring the redirection of resources from other enforcement duties.
“It’s mind-boggling, the amount of money that is being spent on safeguarding staff and projects, but this is our reality. Attacks on staff and City contractors are relentless and include serious crimes such as armed robbery, hijacking, and even murder. The toll on our enforcement services cannot be underestimated.”
Smith urged residents to support safety efforts by reporting suspicious or criminal activity.
“We call on residents to take an active interest in the safety of those bringing services to their communities. If you see or know something, speak up.”
Residents can report crimes by calling the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre at 021 480 7700, or anonymously share tips via the City’s 24-hour tip-off line at 0800 110 077, with the potential for a reward.
