The Deputy National Commissioner Policing, Lt Gen Mosikili 
The Acting Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection,
Lt Gen Senthumule
The Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, Lt Gen
Patekile and his management team
All senior officers present 
Members of the media 
A very good afternoon

We have just arrived in the Western Cape after handing over 162 newly purchased vehicles for the Gauteng province. Just like Gauteng, the Western Cape province is amongst the provinces that we continuously prioritise when it comes to capacitation and resourcing of stations and specialised units. 

It therefore gives me great pleasure to hand over 472 newly trained Constables that are already deployed to police stations and various units like the anti-gang unit across the province to bolster our crime combatting efforts. Of the newly trained constables, 50 have been earmarked to undergo training to serve in the anti-gang-unit by the end of January.

We continue to capacitate the anti-gang unit with additional members and we are looking at acquiring more resources such as vehicles and specialised equipment to bolster their efforts to prevent and combat the ongoing gang violence.

With this said, its quiet encouraging that since the first of October in this province, we have arrested gang leaders 100 gang leaders and 106 runners of these leaders.

To the newly trained Constables , we are counting on you to make a difference, stay disciplined and always remember what you were taught during your training. Wear that uniform with pride, that uniform is a symbol of authority, a symbol of service, of integrity and it is a promise to South Africans that you will serve and protect them 24/7 365 days a year.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have entered the peak of our safer festive season operations and I can assure the people of this province that police are also sharpening their response to serious and violent crime, especially in the 26 identified gang stations. 

Our visit today forms part of our nationwide oversight visits where we are testing whether our operational plans are yielding the desired results.

I must say, with the briefing that I have received from the Provincial Commissioner, we are steadily making headway to put a stop to ongoing gang violence and other crimes. I have been briefed that police have been hard at work in conducting disruptive operations at known gang residences.

Since the start of the festive season operation on 13 October 2025, in the Western Cape alone, 61 920 suspects have been arrested and 15 818 of these suspects were arrested in the 26 identified priority gang stations. 

During the same period, it is quite encouraging that police in this province have prioritised the removal of firearms of our streets with 551 illegal and unlicensed firearms seized  and of the 551 illegal firearms, 432 are handguns and 56 are rifles. 

While we know that alcohol and drugs remain one of the driving contributors of violent crime, it is a step in the right direction that 1 112 unlicensed and illegal liquor premises were shut down in the past two months.

During this period, we have also seized 7 million worth of Mandrax and 4 million of these mandrax tablets were seized in areas identified as the 26 gang infiltrated stations.

I am also happy that today, we will be witnessing the disposing of 20 000 litres of liquor that was confiscated during operations at unlicensed and illegal taverns and shebeens.

Let me remind you all that, as the first line of defense, remember that the safety of women, children and vulnerable groups relies on our collective protection. Upholding our duty with dignity and respect is paramount in serving and protecting all members of society. Continue to prioritise your Safety First both on and off duty to counter the challenges and threats we face in executing our Constitutional mandate. As competent and trained police officers, do not hesitate to employ force proportional to the threat where necessary to defend your lives and the lives of those you serve.

Let’s continue to serve and protect the people of this
province….From Khayelitsha, to Mitchell’s plain, to Mfuleni, Kraaifontein, Gugulethu and Nyanga – we will be out there to stamp the authoutity of the state.

I thank you ….