Western Cape, 08 September 2015

Policing in the Nyanga area is receiving much needed boost with the deployment of scores of police and traffic officials this morning.The operation dubbed “Operation Stopper” saw SAPS members, Traffic Officials, Law Enforcement Officials and SAPS specialised units such as National Intervention Unit (NIU), TRT, Task Force, K-9, Public Order Policing (POP) and Flying Squad descend on Browns Farm and Samora Machel this morning.

The objective of the “Lock Down Operation” is to reduce serious and violent crimes such as murders, car-jacking, and robberies underpinned by proliferation of illegal firearms. These crime categories have plague

the area for quite some time.

The intervention which will focus on Browns Farm and Samora Machel that are considered the main hot spots of the Nyanga Policing Precinct. For the month of August, twenty-two (22) illegal firearms were confiscated in the precinct which is an indication that we need to intensify our efforts in both areas. For the past couple of years the Nyanga precinct has been earned the status of murder capital of the country due to the number of murders committed in the area.

Nyanga comprises about eighteen (18) informal settlements and approximately twenty (20) formal settlements, thereby rendering the area over-populated. “Operation Stopper” will continue for some time until the situation has stabilised. An appeal is made to the community members of the precinct to cooperate with the security officials and embrace the initiative as a means to restore law and order in the area