The City of Cape Town is currently training 1 000 candidates as part of plans to grow municipal policing resources over time. The Project 1000 initiative builds on the work of the LEAP programme to grow municipal policing resources in partnership with the Western Cape Government. Premier Alan Winde and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis joined a mass training session on Monday, 22 April 2024 together with Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.
Under the ‘Project 1 000’ skills development programme, the City is training 1 000 potential new enforcement candidates as a key means of growing municipal policing resources over time to help SAPS fight crime.
The programme offers youth the opportunity of an intense 18 month full-time learnership, including extensive physical training, training on legislation, theory and practical training, among others.
Project 1 000 builds on the LEAP programme, which has already deployed 1 300 new boots on the ground in crime hotspots via a partnership between the City and Western Cape Government.
‘I was impressed to see both LEAP and Project 1000 learners taking on their intense physical fitness training this morning. ‘The impact our LEAP officers are making in tackling crime would not be possible without the type of intensive training regime we see on display here this morning. The Western Cape Government commends these brave recruits for choosing this line of work, I wish you all well,’ said Premier Winde.
‘The City is putting R35m behind Project 1 000 learnerships in the coming year, as we aim to keep growing our policing resources over time to help SAPS fight crime. Our investments are showing promising results, particularly in helping SAPS to combat gang, gun, and drug crime.
‘Overall City policing operations resulted in the confiscation of 447 illegal firearms in the last two financial years. Firearm-related arrests went up 35% in 22/23, with law enforcement also doubling annual drug arrests from 4 000 to 8 000 over the same period,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
The Project 1 000 programme is offered in conjunction with the City’s Education and Training Development Department within Corporate Services.
‘Training started in December 2023, following an extensive recruitment process. This project is but the latest example of how the City continues to think creatively about service delivery, and public safety. With this project, candidates give themselves a head start for any job opportunities that become available. For the City, it means new recruits who can hit the ground running, as they have already undergone the necessary training, and so can make an immediate impact,’ said Alderman JP Smith.