Mossel Bay Municipality trendsetter in community safety

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Mossel Bay Municipality today, 16 August celebrates the official opening of their Joint Operation Centre focused on creating a safer environment for all communities in the greater Mossel Bay. A safer environment will ultimately benefit local economic growth.

This resonates with the Municipality’s GROW strategy driving projects for the next five years.

“The Joint Operation Centre affirms our commitment to grow safety in Mossel Bay.

Community Safety is about peace of mind. Here in Mossel Bay we believe in communities taking ownership of their safety. As local governments we help facilitate the necessary partnerships to support communities taking ownership of their safety.”

Following a construction process of approximately nine months, the JOC held its soft launch in March this year, whereafter the integration of systems, sourcing, training and placement of staff.

The Municipality in June became the first in the Western Cape to train first responders in basic crowd management to assist the South African Police Service, as part of a community safety contingency plan.

City of Cape Town too has since used the Mossel Bay Municipality’s training facility and programme. Porfolio Chairperson for Community Safety and Mayoral Committee Member for City of Cape Town and an expert team visited the Mossel Bay and the JOC on Friday, 12 August to discuss best practice and the development of integrated communication and management systems which will lead to more efficient cooperation between smaller municipalities and the City of Cape Town to ultimately ensure a safer Western Cape.

OPENING

Attending the official opening today, is Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde and Ministers Anton Bredell (Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning), Reagan Allen (Community Safety and Police Oversight). Tertuis Simmers (Minister of Infrastructure) as well as Dr Ivan Meyer (Agriculture).

Executive Mayors and Municipal Managers of several Garden Route towns were also among the guests.

“This is a big partnership and partnership is key. We have to honour the ones with the vision that enables this type of partnership to land in a space like this. It is a proud moment for bringing safety to our region,” said Premier Alan Winde at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

This multimillion-rand centre acts as a force multiplier to ensure delivery of community safety and security, effective service delivery and the management of information. Departments delivering services at the JOC include provincial traffic, municipal traffic, municipal law enforcement, municipal fire, rescue and disaster management, municipal call centre, neighbourhood watch representatives, the South African Police Service, Garden Route District Disaster Management.

The centre also has its own Natis system up and running. The municipal telemetry system if also monitored from the centre and a media office is set up.

The NSRI, EMS, lifesaving component, as well as hostage negotiators, trauma counsellors and a chaplain service can be accessed through the centre.

No less than 200 security cameras feeds are currently monitored from the observation centre situated in the JOC and it has capacity to access 23 000 more country-wide.

The efficiency of the JOC is also harnessed through aerial support, which includes the use of drones and helicopters, the latter in private ownership.

Still in the development phase is the establishment of a dedicated K9 unit and a unit that will specifically deal with land invasion.

Community safety is not a funded mandate of the Mossel Bay Municipality, but through innovation and public-private partnership, the centre was established successfully.

“We are truly proud of this centre which in its essence provides so much added value to residents in all our communities. There is still much to be done, but the JOC as will serve us well for at least the next 10 years,” says Portfolio Chairperson for Community Safety on the Mayoral Committee, Councillor Leon van Dyk.

Dirk Kotzé, Mayor of Mossel Bay, Councillor Leon van Dyk and Premier Alan Winde, who unveiled the plaque.

Premier Alan Winde at the ribbon cutting ceremony

From left: Mnister Reagan Allen, Alderman Dirk Kotzé (Mayor of Mossel Bay), Minister Anton Bredell, Dr Ivan Meyer, Minister Tertuis Simmers, Premier Alan Winde and Councillor Leon van Dyk.