The DA-led municipality has introduced a specialized unit to help ensure the safety of residents and visitors within the municipal area. The Tactical Reaction Unit (TRU) was introduced in January 2019 and will be responding to a wide range of crises in the area.
The unit’s responsibilities include acting as back-up to the municipality’s By-Law Enforcement Unit, as well as its access control security unit. The TRU also assists the municipality’s housing division in demolishing or removing illegal informal structures in Drakenstein. While the unit does not perform any demolishing work itself, it provides a secure space for their housing division colleagues to do their work in relative safety.
The TRU further deploys and acts as back-up and supports other municipal departments or units when handling situations. For example, they assist when there is a need to execute high-risk actions or operations. The TRU works together with South African Police Service (SAPS) and SAPS Public Order Policing, and responds as soon as possible when called in.
The elite unit will be headed up by Eugene de Lange, Manager of By-Law Enforcement and Security at the municipality. The TRU employs people with a unique skill set and will soon sport specialized vehicles, firearms and a range of tactical equipment. This will further improve the unit’s ability to respond promptly to crises or situations.
So far, the TRU has made an impressive impact on upholding general law and order within the municipal area. Since its inception, civil disobedience has dropped notably within the municipal area. The unit will expand as its role grows.