Gauteng Government reaffirms commitment to building safer communities

The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) reaffirmed its commitment to building safer, more resilient communities during the tabling of the 2024/25 Annual Report for the Department of Community Safety at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on December 11. The report shows steady progress in strengthening oversight, improving law-enforcement capacity and deepening community safety initiatives. Overall, the Department achieved 84% of its planned targets for the financial year.

The Department emphasised that the results demonstrate real, measurable progress, with continued action against crime, corruption, vandalism and lawlessness across the province. Encouragingly, reported crimes have shown a downward trend in recent quarters, with a 4.5% decline recorded in quarter 1 of the 2024/25 financial year compared to the previous year.

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The Department’s programmes delivered steady progress across all priority areas. Administration, despite strict cost-containment measures and a moratorium on new procurement and recruitment, ensured the core machinery of the Department remained functional and supportive of essential services. Planned procurement for targeted groups, which are women, youth, people with disabilities and townships SMMEs, could not proceed due to cash flow controls and the prioritisation of existing contracts and essential tools of trade.

Administration further stabilised internal operations and filled key senior management positions in Traffic Management, the Office of the HoD and Corporate Management Services, resulting in 50% female representation at the SMS level and an increase in youth (22.9%) and disability (3.9%) employment. These interventions strengthened leadership capacity and ensured uninterrupted support to law enforcement, oversight and community safety programmes.

The Provincial Secretariat achieved 100% of its planned targets (26 out of 26), reflecting stronger oversight and effective interventions across the criminal-justice and policing environment.

Traffic Management maintained a high level of delivery, achieving 89% of its targets (16 out of 18). Preparations continue for the rollout of the Provincial Integrated Command Centre in the next financial year, which will enhance operational coordination and response capability. The Department remained focused and service-driven, ensuring core functions were carried out while managing resources responsibly.

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Key Achievements of the 2024/25 Financial Year

• The Department delivered several high-impact programmes that contributed directly to safer communities, including a clean audit outcome for the second consecutive year. The Department strengthened police oversight, including 804 unannounced station visits and improved IPID compliance. Notably, there was a decline of road fatalities of -21.84% (-69) in quarter 4 of the 2024/25 financial year compared to the previous year because of the intensified festive-season operations, which targeted reckless and negligent driving and public-transport compliance checks. More than 877 social crime-prevention operations and 568 school safety interventions were conducted across all regions.
• The Department responded to the urgent need to intensify the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), as it continues to threaten the safety, dignity and well-being of women and children across our communities. To this end, the Department intensified GBVF support, reaching over 16 000 victims, tracking more than 1 200 cases and improving survivor support services across the criminal justice system. 38 Green Doors were rolled out, and 145 Victim-Friendly Rooms at police stations were assessed, ensuring survivors are received in safe, dignified, and compassionate spaces, in line with SAPS national instructions.
• The Department is embracing the use of technology to intensify the fight against crime, corruption, vandalism, and lawlessness. This includes the installation of CCTV cameras across the province, particularly in TISH areas. The interim PICC and e-Panic Button enabled law enforcement agencies provide improved response times, arrests and vehicle recoveries.
• The Department facilitated the election of CPF structures across the five corridors of the province to ensure fair representation, transparency, and accountability in all communities. There has also been integrated collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Education to enhance the school patroller programme, ensuring that school environments are safer.
• Since receiving the Public Protector’s Report on 22 October 2025, the Department has undertaken extensive preparatory work, including an internal assessment to identify wardens who meet the criteria for the Traffic Officer Training Programme. The wardens were established as force multipliers to support existing law-enforcement agencies. The Department has acted swiftly to ensure that law-enforcement visibility and operational capacity are not compromised. The Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP) and municipal law-enforcement agencies continue to maintain continuity in road-safety operations and provide support to SAPS in joint operations.
• The Department continues to intensify integrated policing efforts, strengthen partnerships with law enforcement agencies and private security, and intensify community-driven safety initiatives to ensure safety in communities. To this end, 113 patrol vehicles were procured to ensure adequate tools of trade required for visible policing and support of law enforcement agencies.

“These achievements prove that while there is a lot of work that needs to be done, progress is real, measurable and felt on the ground. The Department remains committed to building safer communities through improved oversight and intensified law enforcement efforts. The fight against crime remains a shared responsibility; therefore, we must continue to work together in the fight against crime and build safer communities for all,” said Premier Panyaza Lesufi.

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