JP Smith outlines Cape Town safety plans and targets 500,000 more jobs - IOL

JP Smith has outlined plans to expand Cape Town’s safety operations and infrastructure while hoping to retain his role as the City’s MMC for Safety and Security.

JP Smith has outlined plans to expand Cape Town’s safety operations, improve infrastructure and create another 500,000 jobs, while acknowledging that his future as the City’s safety and security boss rests with Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

Smith, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security and DA Cape Town Metro regional chairperson, said the support shown by voters in the 2026 local government elections placed an increased responsibility on the party to improve service delivery and build on the city’s achievements.

However, he said his return to the position would be at the mayor’s discretion.

“I hope to retain the job, but that is entirely up to the Mayor. So first we must win the city. Then the Mayor must compose his Mayco and that is at his discretion. He will decide who he thinks can continue to do value in the job,” Smith said.

Smith was speaking as the DA declared that it would retain control of the City of Cape Town, based on its own calculations of the local government election results.

Smith highlighted Cape Town’s contribution to employment, claiming the city had generated more than 50% of all jobs created across South Africa’s metropolitan municipalities.

He also pointed to improvements in violent crime statistics in four of the six areas measured, but said the city could not become complacent.

“By every measurable metric, Cape Town outperforms every other city in this country hands down,” Smith said.

He said the city intended to build on its achievements, with a target of creating another 500,000 jobs.

“But it is not really good enough. When good enough becomes good enough, then we have failed. Voters must take comfort in that. They expect us now to take that further,” he said.

Smith said the City had several major safety and security initiatives planned, including strengthening the Joint Public Safety Operations Centre, developing a municipal detective service and building a public safety training college over the next year.

The plans also include  the expansion of the Joint Public Safety Operations Centre, the construction of a public safety training college over the next year and a new law enforcement base.

Smith said the projects were intended to strengthen the City’s security operations and improve public safety.

He raised concerns about pressure on the national police service, saying it had lost 1,330 officers over the past four years. He said the City had attempted to compensate by adding 1,480 officers to its own law enforcement capacity.

Smith said he hoped to remain in the role to oversee the planned projects.

Beyond safety, Smith identified infrastructure investment as a priority, including improvements to stormwater, sewage and electricity services.

He also highlighted road maintenance and major extensions to public transport infrastructure to connect more residents with economic opportunities.

Smith said he had proposed a strategy called No Neighbourhood Left Behind, which would focus on assessing and improving service delivery across every area of Cape Town.

“I have suggested to the mayor a strategy which I call 'No Neighbourhood Left Behind', which will see us driving meticulously the assessment of how we drive service delivery in every area,” he said.