It’s been an interesting week of politics.
Dan Plato is again settling in as our new mayor, has announced his “new, united, diverse, and energised mayoral committee”.
The most interesting of the lot is 27-year-old Zahid Badroodien - a medical doctor who’s decided he can do more good as a politician.
He seems to have his heart rooted in the community, as he spent his youth working in the family butchery in Bonteheuwel and says he has great affinity and gratitude towards the people of Bontas.
I hope he injects some youthful innovation and empathy into the management of the City.
COMMITTED: Zahid Badroodien. Photo: Monique Duval
Meanwhile, Plato’s predecessor Patricia de Lille has returned from her two-weeks leave, tyres screeching and firing on all pistons.
As I predicted, she is launching a new party that she says will contest next year’s elections in all nine provinces.
But the most interesting development last week was the Safer Western Cape conference at the River Club.
It was championed by new Community Safety MEC Alan Winde, for whom I have a lot of respect.
The idea was to bring together crime, safety and governance experts to identify innovative and practical ways to build a safer and more prosperous province.
Over the two days, they focused on collaboration between government, business and communities; evidence-based policy development; and best-practice interventions.
The speakers addressed violence prevention, gender-based violence, professional policing, gang violence, alcohol and drug abuse, environmental crime, commuter and rural safety.
Winde said a new project will be aimed at getting rid of guns on the Cape Flats.
He is offering a R10 000 reward to anyone who reports the location of illegal firearms.
Before I call it a simple yet awesome idea coming at just the right time, I had a chat with Winde about it.
Firstly, if you have knowledge of the location of guns, you get to report it anonymously.
If police find the weapon, you get a R10 000 reward with no questions asked.
The idea is to get as many guns off the streets as possible.
GUSTO: Patricia De Lille.Photo: COURTNEY AFRICA. AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY/ANA
Police will take the matter further, tracing the weapon’s owner or linking it to other crimes.
I agree with Winde that there are many people who know exactly where gangsters hide their firearms.
In drains, under old cars, in sewer pipes, in Wendy house furniture, in cisterns, behind cupboards, in chimneys, among dirty laundry, in ovens you name it.
Wait till that person is out of the way and make the call.
With this reward system, anxious parents, fed-up aunties, tired grandmas, traumatised neighbours and worried friends can all do the right thing, without fear of reprisals.
We can do this, one gun at a time.
Considering most people on the Flats are in desperate need of cash, especially this time of the year, the R10 000 will come in very handy.
And I suspect most people who earn those rewards will be able to put it to good use for their family.
Just don’t go splurging on fancy shoes and luxuries, because the person you piemped will wonder where you suddenly got all the money from.
Other than that, I can declare this to be a simple yet awesome idea that every single Capetonian should take full advantage of.
By the way, the number you must use to report the location of hidden guns to is 078 330 9333.