The passing out parade for 500 new officers in the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement division took place at the Athlone Stadium. The new officers were recruited in terms of the city’s LEAP (Law Enforcement Advancement Programme) mission.

The City of Cape Town has one of the highest crime and murder rates in the world. In July 2019, national police minister Bheki Cele, deployed the army to the Cape Flats to stem the tide of violence and murder by gangs.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says the province has set safety as their number one priority . During the 2019 election campaign, Alan Winde said he would push for a provincial police force even though South Africa’s constitution does not allow for a provincial police force.

The deployment the additional officers is a joint project between the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Provincial Government. The Western Cape as well as the City of Cape is politically controlled by South Africa’s official opposition, the Democratic Alliance. The Western Cape is the only province in South Africa not controlled by South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress.

City of Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato said the communities demanded that something dramatic be done to curb the scourge of violence.