KOUGA – On 29 January, Kouga Council supported the establishment of a standalone Safety and Security Directorate, following a Motion tabled by the Democratic Alliance Caucus on the same day.
Executive Mayor of Kouga Municipality, Hattingh Bornman, said that this decision is a direct response to growing concerns around community safety, as crime and security challenges continue to increase across South Africa.
“Residents deserve to feel safe in their neighbourhoods, schools, businesses, and public spaces, and local government must play its part in ensuring communities are protected and supported,” said Bornman.
While policing is not a primary constitutional function of local government, he said that the reality on the ground is that communities increasingly rely on municipalities for decisive leadership and rapid action during emergencies.
Bornman said that the DA had recognised that placing safety and security within the broader Community Services Directorate had limited the municipality’s ability to respond as quickly as possible across Kouga, as it competes with other service delivery priorities.
“A dedicated directorate will strengthen accountability, improve coordination, and ensure faster decision-making in critical situations,” said Bornman.
The establishment of the directorate is expected to:
• Strengthen rapid response and accountability across Kouga
• Improve coordination with SAPS, provincial and local law enforcement, and disaster management structures
• Demonstrate proactive, responsible governance that puts residents first.
Bornman said that he had mandated Municipal Manager Charl du Plessis to implement the restructuring process in compliance with all relevant legislation.
He said that a revised municipal organogram will be submitted to Council in due course.
Dr Vicky Knoetze, DA Kouga Constituency Leader, said that the standalone Safety and Security Directorate allows Kouga to better attend to safety and security needs.
In addition to Kouga’s latest innovation, she said that the municipality makes use of high-tech drones to fight crime and operates a state-of-the-art Incident Command Centre in Humansdorp.
“The command centre has the capacity to monitor more than 300 cameras, with municipal and private security cameras feeding into the system. Various social media and community messaging groups are also monitored to report information regarding incidents to the relevant authorities,” said Knoetze.
Furthermore, she said that the municipality also uses the groundbreaking URSafe SA app, allowing residents to dial emergency services via voice command with geo-located response, and operates the “Boots on the Ground” project, featuring 18 retired police and safety experts.
Knoetze said that Kouga’s adopted Community Safety Plan entails a whole-of-society approach working in collaboration with stakeholders such as the SAPS, agricultural and civic rights organisations, municipal departments, emergency services, the NSRI, private security companies, businesses, schools, and charities.
“The Kouga Municipality is committed to community safety and is well on its way towards becoming the safest municipality in South Africa,” said Knoetze.
READ MORE: Suspected cable theft causes power outage in Maak n Las
