Just days after reporting for her first full day on the job, newly appointed Western Cape police commissioner, Lieutenant General Yolisa Matakata, met with Western Cape Premiere Alan Winde and Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz to discuss how SAPS and the provincial government would work together to tackle the Western Cape’s “complex” crime issues.
Lieutenant General Yolisa Matakata said she had been looking forward to reporting for duty since her knowledge of the role she will be playing.Â
“Since the announcement, as I said, I know only one country, South Africa. And I love it. I am looking forward to rendering the required and necessary services demanded.”
At a press briefing held on Monday January 6, a copy of the Western Cape’s safety plan was handed to her and she, MEC of Community Safety Albert Fritz and Premier Alan Winde committed to building “a supportive and collaborative relationship between the provincial government and the SAPS in the province”. Â
Lieutenant General Matakata said, in no particular order that her priorities are, her priorities were “leadership, cohesion, ethics and accountability, a focus on the professionalism of the police, and capacitating the police service to improve delivery”.
She added: “You will not be able to achieve what you want in terms of service delivery in the province,” as well as and that she aimed to have “a team that is cohesive and one that is driven by the same objective”.
Mr Winde said, “Crime in the Western Cape is a complex issue which needs all levels of government, civil society and members of the public to work together. I am pleased that SAPS and the Western Cape Government have committed to partnering and collaborating to ensure citizens of this province are safe.”Â