Rural, Agri safety high on agenda at WCDM

Press Release

With the objective of strengthening rural communities and agricultural safety the West Coast District Municipality hosted a stakeholder engagement with farmers across the district.
The engagement, held in Moorreesburg, brought together government officials, agricultural stakeholders and community members to address rural safety challenges and explore collaborative solutions for the region.

Executive mayor at West Coast District Municipality, alderman Boffie Strydom, opened the proceedings, emphasizing the municipality’s commitment to fostering partnerships that enhance rural safety across the district.
Western Cape MEC for agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, delivered an insightful presentation on rural safety initiatives and the growth for jobs strategy, highlighting provincial priorities that align with the agricultural sector’s needs in the West Coast.

MEC for police oversight and community safety, Anroux Marais, did and overview on strategies to strengthen farm watch capacities through collaboration between SAPS, municipalities and farm watches and also donated a new drone to the West Coast District Municipality disaster management centre. This technological contribution will enhance the municipality’s surveillance and emergency response capabilities.

“The drone donation represents a substantial advancement in our disaster management infrastructure,” said West Coast District Municipality director, Wilhelm Markus, during his closing remarks.
“This technology will enable faster response times and improved situational awareness during emergencies across our district.”

Jannie Strydom, CEO of Agri Wes-Kaap, provided valuable insights into agriculture’s contribution to the West Coast economy, while highlighting both challenges and opportunities within the sector.
This collaborative approach to rural safety underscores the district’s dedication to protect both agricultural interests and community wellbeing across the West Coast region. (Press Release)