In response to a recent surge in muggings and attacks raising concerns about tourist safety, the City of Cape Town has unveiled plans for its most extensive tourism safety operation ever, just in time for the upcoming festive season.
JP Smith, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, emphasized that the festive season plan prioritizes public safety and has been expanded to meet the increasing demand. Last year, over 11,000 operations were executed across the metropole during the festive season, and Smith noted that this year’s operations will be even more extensive.
Key components of the new safety measures include:
- A surveillance network featuring over 3,000 cameras, encompassing public and registered private cameras, along with drones deployed for operations on beaches and around Table Mountain.
- Implementation of safety technology, part of the City’s significant investment of R860 million over the next three years, incorporating drones, dashcams, and automatic number plate recognition.
- Introduction of a newly established highway patrol unit to monitor critical routes like the N2 and R300.
- Deployment of 4,000 uniformed enforcement and emergency personnel working in shifts, constituting the City’s largest-ever safety deployment for the festive season.
Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism, echoed the commitment to ensuring the safety of all visitors to the city. He emphasized the provision of essential resources for people to stay vigilant and travel wisely, particularly cautioning visitors using GPS and highlighting the TravelWise website, which outlines crime hotspot zones. Duminy encouraged travelers to contact Cape Town Tourism’s 24-hour Emergency WhatsApp line at +27 (0)82 415 7127 for assistance and information.