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In just five years, the DA-led City of Cape Town has reduced crime in Khayelitsha by 70%. A township once synonymous with violent crime, conditions in Khayelitsha have markedly changed since the introduction of the Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU) program, an initiative of the City of Cape Town, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the German Development Bank (KfW). Implemented in 2006, the VPUU has seen R120 million invested into the community, promoting development, enhancing safety and improving lives. The result has been nothing short of inspirational.

According to South African Police Statistics, 16 648 criminal incidents were reported in Khayelitsha in 2003-04. But in 2008-09, that number plummeted to 5 046, a 70% drop. For many crimes, like arson and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, it fell by over 80%. Kidnapping was almost eliminated, dropping 94%. In virtually every category, the trend is the same. While there is still room for improvement, this represents a significant change in the community's safety and security. But this didn't happen by chance: the DA planned for it and made it happen.

In conjunction with the German government, the City of Cape Town embarked on this ambitious urban renewal program in 2006 - the year that the DA came into power in the City. In consultation with ward councillors, members of the Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF), community leaders, local business people as well as civil society and faith-based organisations, we decided that the best way to upgrade the area would be to focus on crime prevention, infrastructure development, social service provision and business support.

The City started by mapping out the area's criminal hotspots (in Harare, Kuyasa, Site C/TR section and Site B), then changing the physical environment so as to reduce unlawful activities. We paved and lit these "safety node areas" and placed "active boxes" (24-hour centres staffed with "facility guardians" who assist the police) there to curb criminal activities. Residents now report feeling safer in these former no-go areas, able to walk freely at any time of the day.

Also, hundreds of volunteers now do rounds as neighbourhood watch patrols in sensitive areas, especially near shebeens on weekends.

These crime-reducing efforts were bolstered by our larger mission to empower the Khayelitsha community. We have constructed sports complexes, fields, parks, buildings for informal traders to conduct business, and an office to support and counsel victims of rape and domestic abuse. In addition, we have provided training courses to residents and small businesses, as well as financial support for community organisations and crèches, and we will soon construct a new library with an early childhood development area.

The results of this program have been so impressive that the City, the DA and the German government plan to replicate the VPUU project in other townships like Manenberg, where crime levels remain worryingly high. The VPUU provides a model in the way that municipalities engage with their residents and deliver on their pledge of safety, security, development and opportunity.