KEY POINTS
- Western Cape police commissioner to face inquiry over gang violence statements.
- Communities were forced to negotiate truces with gangs amid ongoing bloodshed.
- SAPS Anti-Gang Unit struggling due to a lack of resources and support.
The Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, has been invited to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Police following his claims that law enforcement is effectively tackling gang violence in Cape Town.
Ian Cameron, chairperson of the committee, requested an urgent meeting with SAPS senior management to scrutinize these statements, particularly in light of the latest crime statistics, which reveal 263 gang-related murders between October and December 2024.
Patekile’s remarks have drawn criticism from anti-crime organizations, particularly Fight Against Crime SA (FACSA), which continues to call for the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to support the police.
FACSA described Patekile’s comments as misleading and detached from reality, emphasizing that gang-related crime remains rampant across the Western Cape.
The community takes desperate measures to stop violence
One of the most troubling aspects of the ongoing gang crisis is that residents are now negotiating with gang leaders themselves to secure temporary ceasefires.
In Hanover Park, a community that activists say has been abandoned by the government, SAPS, and the City of Cape Town, residents were forced to broker a seven-day truce with gang leaders in a desperate bid to stop the bloodshed.
FACSA condemned this development, stating, “While we commend the bravery of these residents, we strongly oppose negotiating with murderers and drug dealers, whom we consider terrorists.
This tragic situation is a clear reflection of government failure. No community should have to plead for mercy just to survive.”
According to IOL, critics argue that SAPS management continues to downplay gang violence. They say this ongoing crisis is costing countless lives in Cape Flats and the surrounding townships.
Concerns over SAPS anti-gang unit effectiveness
Cameron has been vocal about the need for stronger law enforcement action. He dismissed Patekile’s claim that SAPS is winning the fight against gangs, calling it misleading and harmful.
He acknowledged that authorities have arrested some notorious gang leaders. However, he pointed out that the overall impact on crime has been minimal.
“There is a massive gap between the crime statistics SAPS reports and the actual lived experiences of communities,” Cameron said. He also raised concerns about the SAPS Anti-Gang Unit, which he visited recently as part of his parliamentary oversight duties.
“What we saw firsthand was a unit in disarray, struggling with a lack of resources.
If this unit had been properly supported, children like four-year-old Davin Africa and his 12-year-old sister, both killed in gang crossfire, might still be alive today,” Cameron said.
SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, confirmed that the Western Cape SAPS leadership has accepted the Portfolio Committee’s invitation. They will appear before the committee to address concerns and answer questions.
