The City of Cape Town is training 1 000 candidates as part of its plans, to grow municipal policing resources over time.
The Project 1000 initiative furthers the work of the LEAP programme, which is also aimed at growing municipal policing resources in partnership with the Western Cape Government.
Growing municipal policing resources
City officials say the Project 1 000’ skills development programme will help grow the pool of municipal policing resources, that over time will help the South African Police Service, to combat crime.
“The Western Cape Government commends these brave recruits for choosing this line of work, I wish you all well,’ said Premier Winde, while visiting the recruits.
A thousand potential new enforcement candidates are currently being trained. The training will last 18 months.
It entails, among others, extensive physical training, training on legislation, as well as theory and practical training. It’s a full-time course and very intense.
Extensive physical training
Project 1 000 builds on the work of the LEAP programme. This initiative has so far deployed 1 300 new boots on the ground in crime hotspots. This was done via a partnership between the City and the Western Cape Government.
”The impact our LEAP officers are making in tackling crime would not be possible without the type of intensive training regime,” said Winde.
Meanwhile, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City is putting R35 million behind Project 1 000 learnerships in the coming year.
READ MORE: Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP)
He says this and other investments show promising results, in particular, in helping SAPS to combat gang, gun and drug crime.
Hill-Lewis added, “Overall City policing operations resulted in the confiscation of 447 illegal firearms in the last two financial years.”
The Mayor says firearm-related arrests went up 35% in 22/23. Law enforcement officers also doubled annual drug arrests from 4 000 to 8 000, over the same period.
Firearm-related arrests went up 35% in 22/23
At the same time, the Project 1 000 programme is offered in conjunction with the City’s Education and Training Development Department within Corporate Services.
Alderman JP Smith explains, “Training started in December 2023, following an extensive recruitment process. This project is but the latest example of how the City continues to think creatively about service delivery, and public safety. “
Smith says the new recruits can hit the ground running, as they have already undergone the necessary training.
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They can also make an immediate impact.
Hit the ground running
He added, that with this project, candidates give themselves a head start for any job opportunities that become available.
