City of Cape Town responds to safety concerns after surfer brutally murdered

Alderman JP Smith says the City's Metro police do not have the same resources to deal with these crimes as Saps.

The City of Cape Town's JP Smith responds to safety concerns after a Scarborough resident and surfer was hijacked in Witsands and murdered last week.

Smith says it doesn't help for residents to direct their anger at the City as some of the concerns raised fall under the South African Police Services mandate.

Read: Brutal murder of Cape surfer leaves coastal community in shock

I think people fail to make a distinction between Saps and Metro police. We don't get access to the crime stats.

JP Smith, Mayco member for safety and security - City of Cape Town

We can't help it if Saps are the only people these crimes are reported to and they don't share that intel with us.

JP Smith, Mayco member for safety and security - City of Cape Town

It is not easy for us to commit sustained enforcement on a spot as it is for Saps at a local station.

JP Smith, Mayco member for safety and security - City of Cape Town

Smith says Saps has lost about 4500 members in the last five years and premier-elect Alan Winde will be taking a legal route to try and force government to bring those members back.

To hear the rest of the conversation, listen below:

This article first appeared on CapeTalk : City of Cape Town responds to safety concerns after surfer brutally murdered

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