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While violent crime and gangsterism spirals out of control in Nelson Mandela Bay the ANC/EFF/NA/PA coalition government has no plans to protect residents or to make the Metro safer.

They have opted instead to postpone crucial safety and security portfolio committee meetings in a bid to save face. The last meeting of this vital committee was held on 5 May 2023 when the DA and its coalitions partners were still in government. Safety and security committee meetings since then have continuously been postponed, with the latest meeting scheduled for 26 September 2023 postponed to 20 October 2023.

Four police stations in Nelson Mandela Bay fall within the top 30 for murder in the country and residents need a caring government that prioritises efforts to tackle crime head on.

The DA in NMB have tabled questions and proposals for discussion at the next safety and security portfolio committee meeting that range from:

• Calling for CCTV and/or alarm systems to be installed at critical municipal infrastructure such as water reservoirs and electricity substations.
• Incidence of vandalism to be reported and investigated thoroughly.
• Calling for the development of a Neighbourhood Watch Support Policy to provide strategic direction and support for these vital community structures.
• Revival of a joint intervention strategy to assist homeless persons.

The DA stands ready to put ideas on the table and implement solutions to protect residents. We therefore call on the ANC/EFF/NA/PA coalition government to stop hiding from accountability and schedule a safety and security portfolio committee meeting – our residents lives depend on it!

Together we can stop the criminals that are holding our Metro to ransom and get Nelson Mandela Bay working again.

Issued by Cllr Gustav Rautenbach - DA NBM Spokesperson for Safety and Security