I am urging members of the community in various areas across the metro where the City has housing projects to approach me if there are matters that we can assist with to ensure our projects remain safe and on track.

I am urging members of the community in various areas across the metro where the City has housing projects to approach me if there are matters that we can assist with to ensure our projects remain safe and on track. Our City teams are committed, good hearted and utterly dedicated to the communities that are in need of housing and they do not deserve to be threatened or prevented from doing their work.

We have a human settlements budget of R2,8 billion to deliver over three years, and last year we had a 97% spend despite all the challenges because we are the City of Hope. Currently, we are faced with extortion, criminality, vandalism, community unrest, and unlawful occupation threatening approximately R1 billion in projects across the metro.

Let us work together to build Cape Town together.

I have just unveiled a new City six-point plan to help protect City housing projects from an increase in incidents of criminality and community unrest. We can predict the tension will increase as we come closer to an election year as well.

The South African Police Service is investigating various incidents and we also encourage the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to step up efforts to help stop this phenomenon. Currently, 12 City projects remain under threat, impacting some 4 500 housing beneficiaries. Greater action is needed from the authorities but also our communities as we cannot complete projects without the community standing with us.

Our six-point plan includes:

1. Working closer with the SAPS and calling on the NPA to step up efforts to help bring these criminals to book.

2. Enhancing security at the projects and increased monitoring.

3. More cases being investigated by SAPS across the metro.

4. Offering a R5 000 reward for information leading to arrests. Members of the community may give anonymous tips and it is absolutely vital that our communities stand with the City and law enforcement authorities.

5. Greater City law enforcement resources to help protect projects and teams working on the ground.

6. Call to action to communities to support the City.

Anonymous tip-offs welcomed

Reward of R5 000 if tip offs lead to arrests.

Call: 0800 1100 77

A R5 000 reward is payable to any person who provides information that leads to an arrest or the successful confiscation or recovery of stolen goods or contraband.

• Residents can report crime and by-law offences anonymously, 24-hours a day, on 0800 1100 77.

• All information is welcomed, but a reward can only be paid if the City's policing resources achieve an operational result that directly relates to information received, like (an) arrest/s, confiscation of contraband or illegal firearms, recovery of stolen goods, rescue of a kidnapped victim, etc.

• Tips received by the dedicated tip-off line are relayed to the relevant City agency.

• Once they have made an arrest/confiscation, etc. they will submit the application for consideration by the Rewards for Information Committee. We do have to caution the public that it could take several weeks or months after the arrest or confiscation is made for the reward to be paid out, once all relevant administrative processes have been completed.

• The system is NOT open to people under the age of 18.

Source: City Of Cape Town