United Against Crime: Gauteng Signs Bold New Agreement to Reclaim Public Safety

In a bold step to reclaim safety and public order, the Gauteng provincial government has signed a landmark Safety Agreement with national and local law enforcement agencies. The initiative aims to tackle rising crime through integrated operations across Gauteng’s cities and towns.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed on April 15 at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus, brings together the Gauteng provincial government, South African Police Service (SAPS), municipal police departments, and local municipalities. This unified front was spearheaded by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who described the agreement as a pivotal moment in reclaiming the province from lawlessness.

“If we cannot get crime right, we will never attract investments in our province, and tourism will suffer,” said Lesufi.

He stressed that the agreement was not merely ceremonial—it marks the start of a province-wide fight to restore law and order, dismantle criminal networks, and build safer communities. “All those that thought they control Gauteng must know the real bosses are coming back to reclaim our province,” Lesufi added.

Fighting Gender-Based Violence with Urgency

Among the concerns raised was the rising rate of gender-based violence (GBV), which Lesufi said remains a major issue in Gauteng. As part of the agreement, the Premier proposed a 72-hour activation period to hunt down GBV offenders and ensure women feel safe in their communities.

A New Era of Intergovernmental Cooperation

The agreement builds on previous partnerships between SAPS and Gauteng’s three largest metros—Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni. However, the new MOU extends collaboration across municipal boundaries and deepens coordination between different levels of government.

Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero welcomed the move, calling it the foundation of a long-term commitment to public safety.

“Through this partnership, we can deploy smarter and faster and respond to the law decisively, whether it is in the inner city of Johannesburg or the townships of Sedibeng,” he said.

TMPD Commissioner Yolande Faro echoed these sentiments, highlighting how criminals do not respect municipal borders. “The MOU is important because as metros, we aim to reduce crime and enforce bylaws more effectively,” she said.

Community Safety as a Shared Responsibility

The agreement represents a broader shift toward integrated crime-fighting strategies and collective accountability. Leaders at the ceremony agreed: crime is not a problem one department or agency can solve alone.

By uniting public institutions under one safety banner, the Gauteng government hopes to rebuild public trust, strengthen enforcement, and create a lasting sense of security for all residents.

{Source: The Citizen}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com