The Drakenstein Municipality launched its Safer Festive-season Readiness Plan on 12 December along the N1, close to the Huguenot Toll Plaza.Photo: Jana Scheepers


Drakenstein Municipality’s new department of public safety, in collaboration with role-players in the Western Cape government, launched its Safer Festive-season Readiness Plan on 12 December.

This plan seeks to encourage holidaymakers to commute more responsibly by increasing the visibility of officers from traffic services, law enforcement and fire services.

The launch was held along the N1 close to the Huguenot toll plaza.

During the launch several motorists, some of whom were on their way to their holiday destinations, were pulled to the side of the road and made aware of the “readiness plan”.

The municipality will use available safety technology, such as cameras, and work closely with partners such as the Community Policing Forums (CPF), neighbourhood and farm watches, the South African Police Service and private security firms.

According to Conrad Poole, mayor of Drakenstein Municipality, who addressed the launch, part of the Safer Festive-season Readiness Plan is not only to focus on reducing crimes, but also accidents.

He explained most road accidents occurred after dark, and therefore encouraged commuters to travel during daylight hours to reduce the occurrence of accidents and road fatalities.

“The municipality will use available safety technology, such as cameras, and work closely with partners such as the Community Policing Forums (CPF), neighbourhood and farm watches, the South African Police Service and private security firms,” according to a press release from Drakenstein Municipality.

Another strategy, which the municipality adopted to improve public safety specifically over the festive period, includes the establishment of the new Drakenstein Community Safety Forum (DCSF), a volunteer-based community safety organisation.

“A broad spectrum of safety and security stakeholders from across Drakenstein attended the workshop to discuss and flesh a way forward out for tackling crime in the area,” the press release said.

“Those attending the workshop included representatives from farm and neighbourhood watches, community police forums, private security firms, civil-rights organisations such as Action Society and AfriForum, and the municipality’s Law Enforcement and traffic-service units.”

The municipality encouraged the public to be its eyes and ears on the ground and report any safety-related concerns to their nearest police station or the municipality’s law-enforcement division at 021 807 8508 (all hours).

Key focus areas to encourage road safety includes: .Random vehicle checkpoints will be set up across Drakenstein to check for unroadworthy vehicles and invalid vehicle or drivers licenses and drunk driving.. Action will be taken against unroadworthy taxis, reckless driving, operating on unlicensed routes, overloading, speeding, and traffic obstructions during pickups or drop-offs.

Safety along the banks of the Berg River

Law enforcement agencies patrolling the Berg River area (on foot and in vehicles) to swiftly address any by-law violations.. A mobile security booth will be stationed near the footbridge at the Berg River, manned daily by an official with a radio and incident log.. Drone patrols will provide aerial support, and officers will use bicycles to patrol the Paarl Arboretum and surrounding areas.

Safety at municipal swimming pools and resorts includes:.Lifeguard presence during opening hours to encourage safety and discourage alcohol use.

Fire safety

Drakenstein Municipality’s Fire and Rescue Services is operational 24/7 will be on call and include additional resources, such as the Cape Winelands District Municipality and Drakenstein

Firebreaks in the Paarl Mountain Reserve are and fire hydrants and water-points throughout the area are also available.

Tourism and visitor safety

Drakenstein Municipality has identified a comprehensive list of hot spots for tourism-related crimes, such as the Paarl Nature Reserve, Paarl Arboretum, Joubert and Victoria Parks in Wellington, and Main Road in Paarl, among others. These areas will be patrolled to ensure tourist and visitor safety..The national department of tourism has allocated dedicated tourism monitors, trained in safety and security, to the Western Cape, 10 of which will be allocated to Drakenstein Municipality to be deployed at various hot spots.

Ricardo Mackenzie, MEC for Mobility in the Western Cape says road safety remains a big concern, and urged road users to practise extreme caution during the holidays. Between 4 to 10 December a total of 240 speeding offences and 21 fatalities were recorded, which is only expected to increase during the festive period, he added.

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