Letter provokes dialogue

The City of Cape Town has come out strongly against its criticism of public policing in the metro after an emotionally-charged open letter entitled “Cape Town is Bleeding and the City is Watching” by community activist Tarryn Bell.

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The hard-hitting letter set social media alight, prompting renewed public debate about the City’s approach to gang violence and crime in high-risk communities.

The letter, addressed directly to Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith, was published last week. It looked at what Bell described as a “tech-first, people-last” approach to safety in historically-marginalised areas such as Hanover Park, Manenberg, Lavender Hill and Nyanga.

“These aren't just dots on a map. These are communities soaked in blood, screaming for justice,” Bell wrote. “You don’t know this reality from statistics or camera feeds. We live it. Every. Single. Day.”