The Nelson Mandela Bay Civil Society Coalition (NMBCSC) has written a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, urging him to take immediate action to address the alarming and escalating levels of crime in the metro.
The coalition is calling for, among others, the deployment of the SA National Defense Force and the establishment of a dedicated Safety and Security Task Force to reduce crime levels.
According to the letter addressed to President Ramaphosa, the metro has become an exceptionally dangerous place for its citizens and communities, with high levels of brutal shootings, robberies, hijackings, kidnappings, cybercrimes, and vandalism of public and private infrastructure. The coalition attributes this to the systematic breakdown of law and order enforcement.
In the letter, the NMBCSC appealed to the President to declare crime as a National State of Disaster for Nelson Mandela Bay and to set up a dedicated Safety and Security Task Force to develop and implement a high-impact safety and security action plan.
The task force should focus on addressing SAPS resourcing gaps, visible policing of major roads and critical municipal infrastructure, ensuring effective implementation plans for police vehicle maintenance, and making the Municipal Police Force fully functional and accountable.
The coalition is also calling for the swapping of local police officials with those from other towns, deployment of the SA National Defense Force, deployment and/or reinforcement of Tactical Response Team, and immediate to short-term practical solutions to address the crisis.
The NMBCSC represents various constituencies of civil society, including non-profit organisations, labour, business, churches, youth, elderly, persons with disabilities, creatives, and special sectors. The coalition is apolitical and aims to ensure that Nelson Mandela Bay becomes a stable and safe socioeconomic environment for all communities, attracting investment and employment opportunities.
The letter concluded with a desperate plea for urgent intervention and action from the President.
