How WC will spend R8.6bn to fight crime, gang violence

THE Western Cape government has allocated R8.595 billion towards safety initiatives over the next three years as violent crime, gang shootings and gender-based violence continue to affect communities across Cape Town and the broader province.

- LILITA GCWABE [e-mail]

FINANCE MEC Deidré Baartman said R8.595 billion will be allocated for safety in the 2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.

(Independent Newspapers Archive)

Presenting the 2026 provincial budget in Parliament yesterday, Western Cape Finance MEC Deidré Baartman said the funding forms part of the province's strategy to address violent crime through both policing support and social interventions aimed at tackling the root causes of violence.

"Supporting our safety policy priority, we will allocate R8.595bn for safety in the 2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF)," Baartman told Parliament.

The allocation comes amid continued concern over violent crime in the Western Cape, where several police stations regularly feature among the country's most dangerous according to the SAPS crime statistics.

Baartman said part of the province's crime-fighting approach is focused on prevention programmes aimed at strengthening families and addressing social factors linked to crime.