Cape Town - Western Cape police commissioner, Thembisile Patekile, said there is no need to bring in the army to gang-ridden areas as they have crime under control.
He said this as the SAPS on Tuesday presented the crime statistics of the third quarter, which ran from October to December 2024.
Though the numbers showed a decrease in murder and attempted murders, crime activists have called for military intervention to quell the violence.
Fight Against Crime South Africa (FACSA) said the communities of Cape Town, particularly those in gang-ridden areas, are living in a constant state of fear, where the sound of gunfire has become a daily reality.
“We call for the deployment of the SANDF. FACSA reiterates our demand for the immediate deployment of the SANDF to stabilise affected communities and restore order,” it said.
Patekile said police held successful lockdown operations on the Cape Flats.
“We’ve combined forces for seven to 14 days to stabilise areas like Bishop Lavis, Mitchell’s Plain and Elsies River.
“We have found that there is one stubborn area which is Delft, which has overgrown and we are conducting a work study of whether there can be another police station, just like in Kraaifontein. “We must try not to give gangs as status, there is no need for the military, these are just criminals but we are not a ta level where we can call the army. We are able to deal with the crime in the province.”
The province recorded 1 198 murders – 103 fewer than the 1 301 recorded in the same period in 2023. Factors that led to these killings were mainly arguments or misunderstandings, gangs, initiation or retaliation.
Patekile said they were concerned about an increase in violent crimes in some parts of the province.
“Of the 17 community-reported crimes, the Western Cape reduced 15 categories during the 3rd quarter of the financial year.
“While murders and attempted murders were significantly decreased during the period under review, gang violence reared its ugly head notably in precincts such as Bishop Lavis, Mitchell’s Plain, Kleinvlei, Delft and Elsies River.”
Patekile added that crime analysis also reveals the weapons of choice are still illegal firearms.