NELSON MANDELA BAY PUTS METRO POLICE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP AT THE CENTRE OF A NEW SAFETY DRIVE
Published: September 18, 2026<< BACK TO NEWS
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is placing its Metro Police Department at the centre of a strengthened community safety architecture, with a new five-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Nelson Mandela Bay District Community Police Forum providing a formal mechanism for closer cooperation between municipal law enforcement and communities.
The agreement, signed on 15 September 2026, establishes a structured working relationship between the Municipality and the Nelson Mandela Bay District Community Police Forum, with a specific focus on strengthening cooperation around community safety, crime prevention, public participation, information sharing and coordinated responses to safety concerns.
At the heart of the agreement is a commitment to strengthen the relationship between communities and Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Police, which is responsible for municipal policing functions including traffic law enforcement, by law enforcement, crime prevention and public safety duties within the metropolitan area.
The Municipality is positioning this agreement as an important component of a wider safety strategy that combines stronger Metro Police capacity, closer cooperation with SAPS, community policing, technology, emergency response capability and visible enforcement.
Executive Mayor Cllr Babalwa Lobishe said the agreement gives communities a more structured role in strengthening public safety.
"The safety of our communities requires a Metro Police service that is visible, responsive and connected to the people it serves. This agreement strengthens that connection. It creates a formal platform through which communities can raise safety concerns, participate in safety initiatives and work with our Metro Police and other law enforcement partners towards practical solutions.”
Mayor Lobishe said the Municipality is deliberately strengthening the institutional capacity of its safety services.
"We are not approaching public safety as a series of isolated interventions. We are building an integrated safety system. That means strengthening Metro Police, deepening our cooperation with SAPS, equipping our frontline services, using technology more effectively and ensuring that communities are part of the safety response”.
The new agreement provides for cooperation on crime prevention and public safety campaigns, traffic safety awareness, by law compliance, road safety education, school safety programmes, community outreach, disaster preparedness and public safety initiatives during major events, public gatherings and emergencies.
It also establishes regular engagement between the parties, with representatives expected to meet at least every two months to discuss matters of mutual interest, while allowing for special meetings when urgent safety concerns arise. Designated liaison officers will facilitate communication and cooperation.
The agreement recognises the Community Police Forum’s statutory independence while affirming the Municipality’s responsibility for operational and law enforcement decisions.
MMC for Safety and Security, Cllr Luyanda Lawu, said the agreement strengthens the foundation for community-oriented Metro Police operations.
"Metro Police cannot operate effectively in isolation from the communities they serve. This agreement gives us a structured mechanism to listen to communities, understand emerging safety risks and strengthen cooperation around prevention and public safety. It is about making community knowledge part of a more coordinated municipal safety response.”
Cllr Lawu said the agreement complements the Municipality’s broader cooperation with SAPS.
"The Municipality has a clear responsibility for municipal policing, while SAPS remains the country’s primary policing agency. Our approach is therefore one of cooperation rather than duplication. Through stronger coordination, information sharing and joint safety initiatives, we can ensure that the respective capabilities of Metro Police, SAPS and community structures reinforce one another.”
The formalisation of the community policing partnership comes as the Municipality continues to invest in the operational capacity of its safety services.
The Municipality has allocated R10.7 million towards specialised fleet for Metro Police, Traffic Services and Security Services, including resources specifically directed towards Metro Police patrol and operational capacity.
This forms part of a broader investment of more than R43 million in frontline safety services, with additional resources being directed towards Fire and Emergency Services, Disaster Management and communications capability.
The Municipality has also invested in new communications equipment and specialised emergency response resources, strengthening the ability of frontline personnel to respond to incidents and support communities.
Mayor Lobishe said these investments must ultimately translate into visible improvements on the ground.
"Investment in safety must be seen and felt by residents. When we provide Metro Police with the vehicles, communication equipment and operational resources they require, the objective is greater visibility, improved response capability and stronger enforcement. When we strengthen our emergency services, the objective is greater preparedness when communities face emergencies.”
The MOU specifically provides for the CPF to represent community safety concerns and priorities, facilitate communication between communities and the Municipality, participate in safety planning and consultation, assist in identifying safety concerns and crime trends, and promote community participation in safety initiatives.
The Municipality, in turn, has committed to participating in CPF meetings and safety forums, providing feedback on municipal policing matters affecting communities, considering concerns raised through CPF structures, supporting awareness and education programmes and collaborating on lawful crime prevention and public safety initiatives.
Cllr Lawu said this creates an important feedback loop between residents and municipal law enforcement.
"The strength of community policing lies in the relationship between the officer and the community. We want residents to know that their concerns have a route into the municipal safety system. At the same time, we expect our law enforcement structures to use community engagement to improve prevention, visibility and responsiveness”.
The Municipality’s strengthened relationship with the Community Police Forum adds another layer to its established cooperation with SAPS and other safety stakeholders.
The Municipality continues to support a coordinated approach involving SAPS, Metro Police, Traffic Services, Security Services, Neighborhood Watches, Community in Blue, Community Police Forums, business stakeholders and other recognised safety structures.
The objective is to ensure that safety intelligence, community concerns and operational capabilities are brought together around identified risks and priorities.
Mayor Lobishe said the approach is particularly important as Nelson Mandela Bay continues to host major events and attract visitors, investment and economic activity.
"Nelson Mandela Bay must be a city where people can live, work, trade, invest and visit with confidence. Public safety is therefore central to our economic and social development. Strong Metro Police capacity, cooperation with SAPS and meaningful community participation are all essential components of the safer Metro we are working to build.”
The Municipality’s safety programme is being advanced through a five year community safety partnership between the Municipality and the District Community Police Forum, stronger Metro Police capacity, continued cooperation with SAPS, community-oriented policing, improved communications capability, strengthened emergency response, public safety partnerships and technology enabled safety interventions.
Cllr Lawu said the Municipality’s focus is now firmly on converting these partnerships and investments into practical improvements in communities.
"We are strengthening the entire safety value chain, from community reporting and prevention to municipal law enforcement, emergency response and intergovernmental cooperation. The expectation is clear. Better coordination must produce better responsiveness, greater visibility and safer public spaces.”
Mayor Lobishe said the Municipality’s commitment is to build a safety system that is increasingly connected to the realities of communities.
"A safer Nelson Mandela Bay will not be achieved through one department or one institution. It will be achieved through capable Metro Police, effective cooperation with SAPS, active communities, strong partnerships and sustained investment. This five-year agreement provides an important foundation for that work, and we are committed to turning the partnership into practical action in communities across the Metro.”
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will continue strengthening its safety partnerships and investing in the operational capacity required to protect residents, visitors, businesses, public spaces and municipal infrastructure.
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