Various safety and security partners, including the government, community groups and the police gathered last week to share resources and challenges in trying to keep Mitchell’s Plain safe.
The meeting was hosted by Wolfgat Sub-council chairman Solomon Philander at the Lentegeur sub-council chamber on Thursday October 21.
Phumeza Magadla, from the Department of Social Development, said social workers were overloaded with cases.
She said they dealt with an array of issues, including child protection services, intervention programmes, foster care supervision, substance abuse, gender-based violence, humanitarian relief and family support.
“We cannot do it on our own,” she said.
Ms Magadla said they were looking to localise training and increase the recruitment of safety moms.
Mitchell’s Plain police station’s Lieutenant Colonel Izana Viljoen said partnering with the community was essential to minimising crime.
Organisations included Safeline Child Abuse Treatment and Prevention Centre, looking after the needs of sexually abused children; Mitchell’s Plain Network Opposing Abuse, advocating for the strengthening of family bonds and empowering each of its members; and Mizpah Educare Centre, in Beacon Valley, addressing the needs of children in their first 1 000 steps but also caring for the community during the national Covid-19 lockdown.
Mitchell’s Plain Community Police Forum (CPF) and Mitchell’s Plain United Residents’ Association (MURA) representatives were also present in advocating for the safety concerns of all residents.