Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
12 July 2024 | 09:40 CAT
2 min read

In response to a recent surge in gang violence in Cape Town, an additional 100 police officers have been deployed to high-risk areas, focusing on precincts with elevated murder rates and gang activity.

The deployment follows a spike in shootings over the month-end weekend, with ShotSpotter data revealing multiple incidents in Lavender Hill, Hanover Park, and Manenberg, where 49 rounds were fired in one morning alone.

Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais, alongside City of Cape Town Mayco member JP Smith, called for immediate action rather than quarterly crime updates, which they argued hinder effective response.

In an interview with Radio Islam, Jan-Jan Joubert, Media liaison officer to Anroux Marais, highlighted the importance of boosting security, stating that “more boots on the ground are crucial for the City of Cape Town”.

“The allocations were determined by the recent Crime stats. The 100 officers have already been deployed to the most affected areas,” Joubert said.

According to Joubert, there is no agreement yet as discussions are ongoing, but Minister Marais, newly appointed to the position, has made it clear that outdated information is unacceptable.

He emphasised that quarterly crime updates are inadequate, likening them to “a history lesson” that hinders future planning. He stressed the need for more frequent reporting and indicated plans to discuss this with Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu.

“For many years, the WC has been short-changed with the number of Police officers allocated to the province; the census must be the main determinator of how these officers are distributed,” he said.

With 11.9% of the country’s population reported in the latest census, Joubert expressed a desire for roughly 12% of the police officers. He suggested that increasing police presence could significantly enhance efforts to combat the current surge in crime.

The WC Government promotes a concept called Transversal Action, where all parties collaborate towards shared goals simultaneously. He emphasises that they are not alone in their efforts, with the Department of Social Development playing a crucial role in assisting traumatised communities.

He highlighted that ensuring youth attendance at schools is also one of their top priorities.

Joubert stressed the importance of community involvement in their efforts. Given the prevalence of gangsterism, he stressed the need for communities to identify and report criminal activities, highlighting the crucial role of public cooperation in combating crime.

“Contact the authorities when you see anything suspicious. We would rather come out twice rather than not at all and have to pick up the bodies,” he said.

Marais confirmed support from the Western Cape Government’s LEAP officers and the City of Cape Town’s Metro Police and law enforcement members.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and Jan-Jan Joubert, Media liaison officer (Police Oversight and Community Safety) here.