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Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor Gary van Niekerk announced a 10-point plan on Friday, to combat crime in the Metro.
This was during a community engagement at City Hall conducted alongside Parliament's chair of chairs, Cedrick Frolick.
The meeting comes amid a spate of killings in parts of the metro, specifically in the northern areas, with a matric learner the latest reported victim of a shooting incident.
Some of the key elements of the mayor's plan, which was part of his commitment during his first 100 days in office, include increasing visible policing, installing CCTV cameras in affected communities, and developing a database of drug houses, while also offering rewards to civilians who provide leads to the police.
The safety plan will be rolled out from Wednesday, 15 November, and will run until 15 January 2024 before being reviewed, and, if necessary, revised.
Van Niekerk emphasised that the crime interventions were meant to help restore the faith of the people in democracy again.
"These are senseless killings and I cannot help but feel that I have failed the families of the victims," he said.
The mayor also appealed to the community to assist authorities in the fight against crime, while also urging them not to protect criminals.
Member of Parliament, Cedrick Frolick, said in order to fight crime, municipalities should play their part and ensure that communities have the correct resources in place.
"Most communities in the northern areas don't have working street lights. We cannot fight crime in the dark," he said.
In his closing statement, Van Niekerk spoke on the recent murder of 89-year-old Sophie Erasmus in her home in West End, saying police were hot on the heels of the suspect.
"An arrest is imminent, as investigating offers are finalising details of the investigation."
