Peace officers and traffic wardens graduate

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - "We believe that if there is no safety, there is no stability," Mossel Bay mayor Dirk Kotzé said at the graduation ceremony of new peace officers and traffic wardens on 15 May.

It was a proud moment for the graduates and their families when the 11 young men and one woman received their certificates, the equivalent of a NQF level 5 qualification.

The graduation was held at Bnei Akiva in Hartenbos.

The municipality says in a statement that the graduates also underwent first responder training in June 2022, facilitated by the Mossel Bay Municipality, which was a first-of-its-kind pilot project in the Western Cape.

The City of Cape Town has since followed suit, using the training facilities and programme presented in Mossel Bay.

Community safety

Present at the graduation was Reagen Allen, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety and Police Oversight and Member of the Provincial Parliament, Jaco Londt.

"We are truly fighting for devolution of power. The successes achieved through the devolution of power have a ripple effect throughout the country. Mossel Bay is a top example to be used whenever devolution of power is advocated," Londt said.

Minister Allen pointed out that the South African Constitution was written to foster partnership and collaboration, and to allow for different spheres of government to work together successfully. Community safety successes in Mossel Bay are based on strategic public private partnerships, as well as a collective effort between different role players in the community safety sector, which Minister Allen commended the municipality for facilitating.

"This is a blue print of what we want to take across the province. Mossel Bay Municipality deserves to be applauded for its commitment and dedication to collaborate with other stakeholders. When members of the public find it difficult to walk to a bus stop to find work due to safety concerns, it affects us. A lack of safety deeply inhibits how we work, act, live or play."

Celebration

Minister Allen said Mossel Bay Municipality stepped up to promote community safety. He added that the Western Cape government too will continue stepping up, making sure that the police oversight role leads to better service delivery.

"A graduation is a collective celebration for the family or the unit the individual will become a part of in Mossel Bay.

"These peace officers will become part of Mossel Bay Municipality. They will live by its ethos, one of discipline and respect. They will also become part of the history of success of the Community Safety portfolio in Mossel Bay," added Kotzé.

Reagen Allen congratulates one of the officers during the ceremony while Mossel Bay mayor Dirk Kotzé looks on.