Public-Private 'hub spaces' the best way to fight crime – Agri Western Cape

Uniting and centralising crime-fighting abilities under one roof will be a gamechanger for crime prevention in the Western Cape, according to Agri Western Cape.

Increased coordination between public and private stakeholders, particularly in relation to new digital technology, is an essential proactive step, and now is the time to do it, says Agri Western Cape’s Head of Rural Safety, Uys van der Westhuijzen.

“We cannot always be reactive; we must be proactive,” Van der Westhuijzen said during his address at the Cape Chamber's Winelands Safety and Security Dialogue last week. He said a central hub was needed to coordinate the efforts of the SAPS district command, disaster management, farm watch officers, and other safety and security stakeholders. “This would enable us to integrate the E2 system with our communications system, all cameras – all of these things can be integrated onto a single platform.”

The E2 system is a public-private partnership designed to bridge the communication gap between SAPS, farm watches, Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA), and the Private Security Industry (PSI).

Even apparently "small" crimes, such as the theft of copper, can have a severe impact on farming operations. A broken pump disrupts irrigation and causes production loss – a chain of events that amplifies the initial impact of the crime. Furthermore, money spent on protecting farm property is money that could have been spent on expanding the farming business.

Van der Westhuijzen also stressed the need to involve social development stakeholders in a whole-society approach that also prevents crime by working with vulnerable communities, via interventions such as youth programmes.  "Fighting crime is not just a SAPS responsibility; it requires a collective, joint and integrated approach by all relevant role players of which the community itself is the most important in ensuring a secure,  stable and investment-friendly ecosystem for all."

“We need to start now – if we don't do that, then we won't get there,” Van der Westhuijzen said.