By Ald Hannes Coetzee
MMC for Community Safety
Tshwane’s Multiparty Coalition Government is pleased to announce the appointment of Deputy Commissioner Spies to lead the Asset Protection Cluster.
This is one more step in the right direction to give effect to this administration’s strategic priority to
safeguard the City’s critical infrastructure against unrelenting assaults.
For far too long the spectre of lawlessness has loomed over our city, manifesting in the rampant theft and deliberate sabotage of municipal infrastructure.
These criminal acts not only threaten the essential services that our residents depend on but also cripple economic growth and erode public trust in our institutions.
This administration firmly believes that we cannot stand idly by while criminals wreak havoc, looting and
dismantling the very foundation of our service delivery.
Energy losses have surged alarmingly from R470 million in 2022/23 to R800 million projected for 2024/25. This staggering financial burden, directly attributable to rampant criminality, must be confronted head-on.
Millions of rands worth of stolen and vandalised infrastructure have plunged communities into darkness, left businesses struggling for survival and put the qualityof-service delivery in jeopardy.
In response to this escalating crisis, our administration has allocated an additional R315 million to enhance security services because the protection of public assets is not merely an option – it is an imperative that aligns with the administration’s strategic priorities, specifically Priority 4:
Enhancing City safety, security and emergency services.
This significant investment will not only bolster the deployment of security personnel but will also introduce a comprehensive asset protection strategy, which includes the following:
1. Advanced CCTV surveillance and state-of-the-art motion detection systems to monitor and secure critical sites across Tshwane
2. Intelligence-led operations designed to dismantle the criminal networks profiting from this destruction
3. Swift and decisive enforcement actions to ensure that those who engage in criminal activities are fully held accountable by the law Deputy Commissioner Spies brings a wealth of experience as a seasoned law enforcement leader, with a distinguished career spanning over four decades.
He began his service in January 1983 with the South African Police Force, later becoming a Registered Traffic Officer in the Pretoria Traffic Department.
On 01 April 1991, he joined the Benoni Traffic Department, which was later integrated into the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department.
His extensive experience in both Tshwane and Ekurhuleni has equipped him with the expertise and insights necessary to implement meaningful change.
Appointed on March 1, 2025, as the Deputy Chief of Police: Asset Protection and Security Services within the Tshwane Metro Police, with the rank of Deputy Municipal Police Commissioner, he now leads efforts to safeguard the city’s critical assets.
Under his leadership, Tshwane will no longer be an easy target for organised crime or those who seek to exploit our governance systems.
This administration has drawn a clear line in the sand: We refuse to permit the criminal capture of public infrastructure.
Those who engage in the targeted looting of our city will face the full force of the law, reinforcing our Strategic Priority 9 by providing a professional public service that drives accountability and transparency.
With Deputy Commissioner Spies at the helm, our commitment to reclaiming our infrastructure has begun in earnest.
Tshwane will not be held hostage, and this government will not be intimidated. We stand resolute, ready to protect our city.
Together, we will prevail against the forces of criminality and restore the integrity of our public services.