Western Cape’s R8.6bn strategy to tackle crime and gang violence

The Western Cape government hasearmarkedR8.595 billion towards safety initiatives over the next three years asviolent crime, gang shootings and gender-based violence continue to affect communities across Cape Town and the broader province. Presenting the 2026 provincial budget in Parliament on Thursday, Western Cape Finance MEC Deidré Baartman said the funding forms part of the province’s strategy to address violent crime through both policing support and social interventions aimed at tackling the root causes of violence. “Supporting our safety policy priority, we will allocate R8.595 billion for safety in the 2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework,” Baartman told Parliament.

The allocation comes amid continued concern over violent crime in the Western Cape, where several police stations regularly feature among the country’s most dangerous according to the Saps crime statistics. On the morning that MEC Deidré Baartman presented the Western Cape budget Speech for 2026, police were at a crime scene at Delft Taxi Rank, investigating the fatal shooting of three individuals. Baartman said part of the province’s crime-fighting approach is focused on prevention programmes aimed at strengthening families and addressing social factors linked to crime.

“We will invest R373.747 million over the MTEF in care and services to families through the Department of Social Development,” she said. In the Western Cape crime statistics, substance abuse regarded as a major contributor to violent crime and domestic violence. Addressing this, is also a part of the priorities.

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“We allocate R396.093 million for substance abuse disorder prevention and treatment, focusing on prevention, early intervention for about 4,000 service users a year, and residential treatment,” Baartman said. The Department of Social Development will receive R1.223 billion over the MTEF to support adults and children in conflict with the law, including diversion programmes aimed at preventing repeat offending.

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