The City of Cape Town continues to roll out its biggest safety investment in over a decade, launching 40 new Metro Police Officers dedicated to the N2 highway, Airport and Borcherd’s Quarry precincts. The new officers will enhance existing safety efforts along the N2, and form part of the 700 new City police officers who have begun their deployment across the city, including dedicated neighbourhood policing in every ward, a historic first. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis joined the new officers along the N2 today together with Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.
The City’s beefed-up N2 safety presence forms part of the broader Integrated Freeway Safety Plan targeting various priority freeways, including the R300, N1, N7, M3 and M5, as well as various secondary arterial routes.
‘This new deployment of 40 Metro Police Officers will enhance our existing enforcement presence and increase safety efforts along the N2 and neighbouring Airport and Borcherd’s Quarry precincts. The City’s Integrated Freeway Safety Plan goes beyond the deployment of more officers on various key routes, to also track these areas with sophisticated camera technology, including automated licence plate recognition.
‘Officers are further equipped with dashcam tech capable of identifying stolen vehicles and other transgressions. As a City making major investments in policing resources, we are sending a clear message today to our partners in SAPS and national government: we are here to help make Cape Town safer, including along this key N2 route for commuters and visitors to our city,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
Safety operations along the N2 will run on a 24/7 basis, taking into account that incidents tend to occur in the early hours when traffic is quieter along the route.
Incidents are primarily opportunistic in nature, where criminals target motorists who have stopped along the side of the road – either to drop or pick up passengers; to take a call, or because of a mechanical issue. In the last year, a full 85% of the 2 215 incidents responded to by Metro Police officers on the N2 and R300 related to vehicle mechanical issues, motorists running out of fuel, or as a result of flat tyres.
During this period, officers recorded eight instances where they rendered assistance to motorists who were robbed. These City operational statistics are aside from those incidents responded to by SAPS.
‘The most recent annual statistics for our highway interventions are a stark reminder of just how critical a dedicated enforcement presence is. We have stepped up time and again over the past decade – first with the dedicated Metro Police patrols, followed by the establishment and deployment of a specialised Highway Patrol Unit in our Traffic Service, and now this additional deployment. It underscores the City’s commitment to public safety, and I implore our road users to work with us to mitigate the risks to their safety by taking every possible precaution when traveling on these routes,’ said Alderman JP Smith.
The City’s enhanced enforcement presence will coordinate efforts with various stakeholders, including SAPS, provincial traffic authorities, public transport service providers and Eskom.
The new N2 deployment was also welcomed by the Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais.
‘These additional deployments and increased patrols will go a long way in restoring a sense of safety on a critical gateway to our province and City. Provincial Traffic authorities will work hand-in-hand with City officers and SAPS to bring down criminal incidents affecting both residents and visitors to our province,’ said Minister Marais.
New Metro Police recruits deployed to the N2 (and each ward in the city) have all completed an 18-month learnership programme which included:
- Traffic Officer course (12 months)
- Metro Police officer training which included firearm competency training (three months).
- Specialised training, which included Neighbourhood Safety Officer training, evidence-based policing. Additional Tactical training, EPIC training
- This group of cadets also received Civic Academy training
Safety Advice for motorists
- Avoid travelling late at night if you can help it. Criminals use the cover of darkness and quieter roads to their advantage
- Make sure that your vehicle is mechanically sound at all times
- Make sure that you have the necessary tools and a spare tyre, should you experience a puncture
- Factor in a few extra minutes to check tyres and fuel at a garage before making it onto a highway/major route
- Make sure your cellphone is charged, or that you have a car charger available, and that you have airtime to call for help
- Make sure someone close to you is aware of the exact route you are taking, and your time of departure
- Share your live location with someone close to you
- Save the Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) number on your phone – 021 480 7700, in case of an emergency
- Report anything out of place along your route – even other vehicles that appear stranded or abandoned
- Do not stop along a highway to drop passengers or pick up anyone, or make a call etc.
