| 2025/05/16 |
Media Statement CAPE TOWN - In ongoing efforts to deal holistically with serious violent crime incidents plaguing some communities within the City of Cape Town district, a multidisciplinary policing approach is proving effective with some hot-spots showing stabilisation. However, other identified precincts still require intensified serious interventions. Thanks to the integrated deployments between Western Cape SAPS, the City of Cape Town’s LEAP officials, Metro police and Neighbourhood Watch members that continuously venture out to volatile targeted areas. The reinforced boots on the ground are augmented by vital intelligence and technology utilisation. The City of Cape Town’s ShotSpotter system, coupled with the camera network, licence-plate recognition (LPR) innovations as well as drone technology are becoming a force to be reckoned with. On Wednesday afternoon, 14 May 2025, Western Cape Flying Squad members followed crucial information that led them to the Maitland cemetery where a burial service was underway and shots were fired. Upon arrival, the members arrested three foreign nationals and seized seven illegal firearms. The suspects aged 32, 36 and 49 will appear in court soon for illegal possession of firearms in Cape Town on Friday, 16 May 2025. As the investigation continues more charges could be added. The seven illegal firearms seized yesterday add to approximately 260 illegal firearms confiscated since January 2025 in targeted operations conducted throughout the Province. The seizure of the firearms is quite significant in the police’s quest to create safer communities as illegal firearms are at the heart of serious violent crime in the Western Cape. Meanwhile SAPS detectives in the Province are employing all legislative framework and investigative tools at their disposal to ensure that arrested suspects face the full might of the law for crimes committed. Provincial Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit investigators are hard at work with an investigation where a nine year old girl from Hanover Park who was reported missing was found on Tuesday in the company of a local man who recently came out of prison. The 58 year-old suspect was arrested on kidnapping and rape charges. He is scheduled to appear in the Wynberg Court on Friday, 16 May 2025. The South African Police Service in the Province wishes to express a word of caution community members who intend taking the law into their hands. Such acts will not be tolerated as they constitute serious crime. When SAPS officials were busy effecting the arrest in Hanover Park on Monday evening they came under attack from community members who wanted to lay their hands on the suspect. Organised crime detectives since March 2025 had their hands full in efforts to decisively deal with organised criminality. In total they effected 52 arrests. Of the figure, 37 were arrests from a number of takedown operations for charges ranging from intimidation to dealing in drugs, extortion, contravention of the firearms control act, attempted murder and murder as well as contravention of sections of the prevention of organised crime act. In addition, 13 life sentences for murder were secured by the specialist investigators. The unit’s detectives also ensured that gang bosses and runners are before courts facing serious charges. Since the beginning of January 2025 (start of the calendar year), to date the following successes were achieved.
• Arrests for Contact Crimes – over 16 000 In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of these crime-reduction operations, the vast Khayelitsha Township with its four police stations namely, Makhaza, Lingelethu West, Harare and Khayelitsha Site B, has made inroads in crime reduction. Although we are not out of the woods yet, the current downward trajectory in the township is acknowledged. For that we thank all the integrated forces who contributed to the current picture. Behind Khayelitsha’s encouraging crime picture are the following interventions: • Constant engagement of communities through street izimbizo and community members providing much-needed information on crime. • Efficient and effective neighbourhood watch system that enables active citizenry. • Early morning patrols targeting commuter routes to train stations, bus stops and taxi pick-up points. • ‘Super’ Friday patrols with neighbourhood watch members. • Targeted arrest of Boko Haram splinter groups members who were constantly fighting over territory resulting in multiple murders. • Consistent objection of bail for accused who are charged with serious crimes. Feuds between rival groups on the gang front in Mitchell’s Plain, Bishop Lavis, Delft, Mfuleni and other identified precincts on the Cape Flats, are still a concern for the management of the SAPS in the Western Cape. At the heart of the murders, attempted murders and other aggravated crimes, are illegal firearms which we are targeting through various operational interventions. With the Cooperation Agreement between SAPS and the City of Cape Town gaining momentum, on the ground the integrated forces work hand in glove resulting in an improved crime picture. The Provincial Anti-Gang Unit having been bolstered by an additional 100 members recently is making inroads in some traditionally challenging areas. On the intelligence front, there is still room for improvement. The majority of successful operations executed thus far were intelligence led. A call is still being made for communities to play an active role in legitimate crime fighting efforts within their respective precincts. The SAPS management in the Province believes that someone somewhere somehow knows something. Please continue sharing information with the SAPS on 08600 10111.
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