Mayor’s Safety and Security Expo Unites George Against Crime
In the photo are speakers and guests from left to right: Cllr Thandiswa Qatana (Programme Director), Cllr Brendon Adams (MMC for Community Safety), Dr Zilla North (WC Department of Health, Khangelani Rhawula (Director: WC Department of Health), Vuyani Mbaqa (Deputy Director: Department of Police Oversight), Ald Jackie von Brandis (Executive Mayor of George), Nkosiyabo Lose (GRDM Project Coordinator), Sergeant Opperman (SAPS), and Lee-Anne Meiring (Senior Manager: Community Safety).
Engagements, information sharing, and safety exhibitions were at the forefront of the George Mayor’s Safety and Security Expo, held on Thursday, 3 October 2024, at the George Civic Centre. The event, aimed at encouraging unity against crime, was attended by Executive Mayor Ald Jackie von Brandis, members of the Executive Mayoral Committee, councillors, and various representatives from the safety and security sector.
Key attendees included officials from the Western Cape Provincial Government, Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), South African Police Service (SAPS), Department of Correctional Services, Department of Police – Oversight, Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, and the Western Cape Liquor Authority community organisations, Community Policing Forums, Community in Blue, Neighbourhood Watch, and residents of George.
In her opening remarks, Mayor von Brandis expressed gratitude for the strong turnout. “I am sincerely thankful for your attendance,” she said. “This Safety and Security Expo emerged from the growing need for collaboration on crime prevention, and I am pleased to see the strong support we’ve received today. As the largest secondary city in our province, we must prioritize safety and tackle crime head-on as a united community.”
Lee-Anne Meiring, Senior Manager for Community Safety at George Municipality, delivered the keynote address, focusing on the local government’s role in community safety, the importance of partnerships, and the municipality’s strategy for safety in George. She emphasized that crime prevention requires collaboration across all sectors. “We believe that no single entity can ensure community safety alone. Our approach is to work across individual, relationship, community, and societal levels to prevent crime and violence.”
Meiring introduced the City’s Strategy for Community Safety, which includes:
• A flexible organisational structure suited to George’s growing needs
• Integration of advanced technology
• Development of an Operational Command Centre
• Improvement of data collection systems
• Strengthening of existing partnerships and creation of new ones
The event also featured presentations from key stakeholders such as the Department of Police – Oversight, SAPS Garden Route, Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, GRDM, and the Western Cape Liquor Authority. Topics discussed included:
• Neighbourhood Watch accreditation and responsibilities
• Building sustainable safety partnerships
• The impact of crime on health services and solutions
• District Safety Forum initiatives
• Alcohol’s role in society and Western Cape Liquor Authority’s local operations
Residents had the opportunity to engage during a question-and-answer session, raising concerns about Neighbourhood Watch uniforms, stipends for Community in Blue, and transport assistance for safety volunteers. Councillor Thandiswa Qatana, who was the Programme Director, facilitated this process.
The expo was a collaborative effort between George Municipality, the Western Cape Provincial Government, and GRDM. Mayor von Brandis closed the event with a powerful declaration: “With this expo, I want all of us—residents and councillors alike—to declare: No to crime, no to violence, and no to living in fear!”
Follow the link to the video of the event: https://youtu.be/HsawGqdZQo8
