JP Smith outlines Cape Town safety plans and targets 500,000 more jobs

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith has unveiled plans to bolster Cape Town's safety infrastructure and create an additional 500,000 jobs, acknowledging his tenure as the city's safety and security boss is dependent on Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis' decision. The DA leader emphasized the significant responsibility placed upon the party following support from voters in the 2026 local government elections, stressing their intention to build upon the city's achievements and further improve service delivery. However, Smith clarified that his return to the position rests solely with the mayor's discretion.

Highlighting the city's role in job creation, Smith revealed that Cape Town has generated more than 50% of all jobs across South Africa's metropolitan municipalities. While expressing satisfaction with improvements in violent crime rates in four out of six measured areas, he cautioned against complacency, emphasizing that 'when good enough becomes good enough, then we have failed.'

Smith announced a series of ambitious safety and security initiatives, such as enhancing the Joint Public Safety Operations Centre, establishing a municipal detective service, and constructing a public safety training college within the next year. These efforts aim to fortify the city's security operations and bolster public safety.

The plans also include the development of a new law enforcement base, addressing concerns about pressure on the national police service, which has lost 1,330 officers over the past four years. Smith explained that the city has attempted to compensate by adding 1,480 officers to its own law enforcement capacity. In addition to safety concerns, Smith underscored infrastructure investment as a priority, proposing improvements to stormwater, sewage, and electricity services, as well as major expansions to public transport infrastructure to connect more residents with economic opportunities.

Smith unveiled the No Neighbourhood Left Behind strategy, aiming to meticulously assess and improve service delivery across every neighborhood in Cape Town. With the mayor's approval, Smith expressed hope to continue overseeing these projects, acknowledging the city's need to exceed expectations and deliver more substantial improvements to its residents.