Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has agreed to make office space available in the municipal building in Mfuleni, paving the way for the area to finally have its own dedicated police station.
The announcement comes after years of frustration from residents who have long complained that policing in the crime-hotspot community is inadequate, as their closest police station is in Blue Downs.
The decision was reached during a meeting on Thursday between Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia and Mayor Hill-Lewis.
It forms part of the minister’s ongoing engagements with local government and communities across Cape Town to tackle the current crime challenges and improve policing services.
Earlier this week, Cachalia held direct consultations with residents in Mitchells Plain and Mfuleni, where concerns about safety and service delivery were raised.
Mfuleni residents voiced particular frustration that the Blue Downs police station, which currently services the area, cannot cope with the needs of the township’s rapidly growing population. They argued that the lack of a dedicated facility has left them vulnerable in one of the city’s most crime-affected areas.
In response, Mayor Hill-Lewis committed to making 380 square metres of office space available in the municipal building in Mfuleni. This will be handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and converted into a dedicated police station for the community.
The ministry added that while the scope of services to be provided from this site is still being finalised, this interim solution is an immediate step towards improving police visibility and accessibility for the Mfuleni community.
The Mayor has also offered the adjoining erf as a medium- to long-term solution, allowing SAPS to build a fully-fledged police station in the future.
A lease agreement between the City and the regional Department of Public Works is being arranged, with SAPS only expected to cover utilities such as water and electricity.
Minister Cachalia welcomed the move as a strong example of cooperative governance.
“The fight against crime requires urgency, coordination, and accountability. Most importantly, it requires that we listen to communities and act on the concerns they raise,” added Cachalia
Mayor Hill-Lewis echoed the urgency of the intervention, stressing that Mfuleni is “a very hard-hit area” where crime must be brought under control.
“The City gladly offers urgent help for the SAPS to establish a fully-fledged police station in Mfuleni. – Working together, the City and the SAPS can be a far greater force in the fight against crime.” added Hill-Lewis
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