The City of Cape Town believes reservists will help bolster law enforcement efforts in several communities.

The Department of Safety and Security has drawn up a policy governing the appointment the crime-fighting volunteers.

They will have the authority to search and arrest offenders.

The initiative may come into effect in September.

The department’s Anton Visser said, “The idea originated from a request from the neighbourhood watchers who indicated that they wished to participate on a more formal basis for the city’s police agencies and this will definitely bolster the patrol numbers out there.”

(Edited by Deshnee Subramany)