The Citizen Relations & Urban Management (CRUM) Region F Law Enforcement Task Team (LETT) has made significant progress in enforcing bylaws and tackling urban challenges in the inner city as part of the Joburg City Safety Strategy (JCSS) over the past few months. A key focus has been addressing problematic properties and buildings.
The LETT is a collaborative operational team drawing on multiple disciplines and sectors. It works alongside service delivery teams to enhance the effectiveness of on-the-ground operations. Stakeholders overseeing this initiative include city entities and departments led by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Department, Joburg City Safety Programme, and City Regions through urban management units, alongside South African Police Services, provincial departments such as Public Safety, Social Development, the Gauteng Legislature, and the Gauteng Liquor Licensing Unit, as well as Business and Community Policing Forums.
Established in June 2023, the LETT in Region F serves as a pilot for implementing the JCSS multi-agency approach, reaffirming the value and efficacy of this strategy. LETT members are empowered to ensure compliance in areas such as environmental health, planning and building control, disaster management, public space, liquor outlets, public amenities, and informal trading.
The Joburg City Safety Strategy aims to create a structured framework for targeted interventions and plans to reduce crime while supporting inter-agency collaboration. It seeks to strengthen ties between the city and its residents, build trust with law enforcement, and foster a united community. Moreover, it aims to transform the city’s image by enhancing public spaces and improving overall safety, contributing to a responsive, caring, and resilient City.
A total of 162 LETT operations were successfully conducted, with 806 properties jointly inspected, leading to the identification and regulation of 1,169 bylaw infringements. Additionally, eight problematic parks were cleaned and regulated, with vagrants removed and relocated. The compliance rate with municipal bylaws and regulations currently stands at a low 8%.
Earl Stoles, Deputy Director of Planning, Profiling, and Data Management in CRUM Region F, highlights the integrated approach’s effectiveness in addressing public safety and urban management issues.
“These operations are crucial in cracking down on businesses selling counterfeit goods, illegal occupation of parks and open spaces, and unauthorised land use to ensure community safety,” said Stoles.
Stoles emphasised the city’s goal of creating a more harmonious environment through continued collaboration and enforcement, building on achievements, ongoing monitoring and evaluation, and balancing the diverse priorities of stakeholders for the benefit of all city residents and workers.
The City values these partnerships as they work towards a shared objective of revitalising the inner city, restoring its former glory, and rebuilding the confidence of businesses, residents, investors, and visitors.
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