New Western Cape rural safety desk to combat crime

By Jeandré van der Walt
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The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has established a rural safety desk as part of the province’s economic recovery plan.

New Western Cape rural safety desk to combat crime
In an effort to help combat rural crime, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture has set up a rural safety desk.
Photo: FW Archive
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The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has established a rural safety desk as part of the province’s economic recovery plan.

This was announced by the MEC for agriculture, Ivan Meyer, when he tabled the province’s agriculture budget in the legislature recently. He announced a budget of R909 million for the 2021/2022 financial year.

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Meyer said the desk would provide a platform for farmers, agricultural workers, and other agricultural stakeholders to log inquiries about rural safety matters.

“We have also developed a rural safety monitoring dashboard. The aim is to capture and record all rural crime reported to the department, provide spatial data on crime incidences for follow-up and referral to the relevant mandated authority.”

He added that this initiative supported the provincial and departmental focus on safety, with an amount of R28,95 million being allocated to rural development and safety.

A lion’s share of the budget was allocated to the department’s agricultural producer support and development programme.

Meyer said in order to support smallholder and commercial farmers, the department would be implementing 105 agricultural projects valued at R104 million in the 2021/2022 financial year. “This will facilitate the creation of 466 permanent and 1 097 seasonal jobs.”

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Last year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a record 5 400 household gardens were established across the province. The department committed to the implementation of a further 1 800 household gardens in impoverished communities across the province.

In his budget address, Meyer also highlighted the department’s intention to increase agricultural exports by at least 5% over the next five years.

He said that the department spent R11 million on market access-related activities across multiple countries to increase agricultural product exports from the Western Cape.

In conclusion, Meyer said the budget would facilitate the critical role that the agricultural sector played in driving the economy and create jobs in the Western Cape.

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Jeandré van der Walt
Jeandré Du Preez is the newest addition to the Farmer’s Weekly team. Originating from a Riversdal farming family, she has farming in her blood. After school she furthered her studies at Stellenbosch and has been working as an agricultural journalist for the past two years. She says she feels privileged to write about an industry paramount to the survival of all South Africans and is inspired by the innovative solutions with which the farming community bridges the many challenges they face. She enjoys being able to combine work with travel and appreciates the modesty and friendliness with which South Africa’s farmers share their accomplishments. She enjoys being able to combine work with travel and appreciates the modesty and friendliness with which South Africa’s farmers share their accomplishments. If she is not writing or visiting farms, you’ll find her relaxing with a good mystery novel or exploring her other passions: travelling and cooking.

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