| 2023/10/03 |
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Cape Town Morning Ladies and Gentlemen, In line with the SAPS’s ongoing efforts to “Combating Crime through Decisive Police Action and Robust Community involvement” Five months ago, the country was introduced to a success driven decisive policing approach in communities impacted by high levels of crime. Under Operation Shanela, South Africa saw simultaneous high-density police operations. Since the adoption of this crime combating strategy in May, the SAPS has mobilised its resources to ensure heightened police visibility Each week boots on the ground are manning regular roadblocks, conducting stop and searches and are also amongst other things, tracing wanted suspects especially those who have committed murder, rape and Gender-Based-Violence and Femicide related crimes. While policing is a 24 hour operation, the police’s fight against serious and violent crime is intensified, strategically across the country. This is part of High Density Operations rolled-out over the weekend; starting on Thursdays right through to the early hours of Monday morning. This confrontational policing approach is proving to be useful especially as the SAPS works closely with other law enforcement agencies to stamp the authority of the state. According to our weekly countrywide crime scan, police are improving their responses to crime and are pushing back on criminality. The Western Cape is no exception, Over 155 thousand suspects have been arrested for contact and serious crimes such as murder, rape, robberies and hijacking throughout the country. Thousands of these suspects have been arrested in this province since the start of Operation Shanela, five months ago. 1, 365 firearms were removed off the streets along with 31 851 rounds of ammunition. Under the leadership of Lt General Patekile and his management team, Western Cape police have since April 2023, made numerous arrests of suspects accused of serious crimes. SAPS in this province have in the past six months arrested 978 murder suspects and removed 941 more individuals for their alleged attempts to kill another person. In the same period, Western Cape courts handed down life sentences to 11 murderers and 14 rapists.
Members of the media, Kidnapping which has been highlighted as a crime of concern especially in the Cape Town area, has also been dealt a blow through policing interventions. From April to date there has been 13 incidents of kidnapping for ransom, seven of the cases have been solved through the arrests of 28 suspects. Three vehicles have been recovered while two people were convicted to life behind bars for kidnapping. Overall, 278 suspects are behind bars or before the courts for their alleged involvement in kidnapping related cases, including domestic kidnapping. Over 6 thousand violent and dangerous assaulters were also arrested while 798 people were placed under police custody for aggravated robberies. Since April to the end of September, targeted police operations have resulted in the seizure of drugs, vehicles, firearms and counterfeit goods with a combined value of over R140 million. R31 million of the seizures were from operations aimed at removing drugs in communities. So while police are making inroads in the fight against crime in this province, it is deeply disturbing and unacceptable that over 100 people were killed in the Western Cape alone in a week. As we sharpen our responses to crime, thugs are becoming more brazen and trying to unleash fear and terrorism in communities such as Gugulethu, Manenberg and Ravensmead, where we have seen shootings resulting in multiple deaths. The shootings have been ruthless, killing women and children, professionals, breadwinners and even one of our own, Warrant Officer Lindela Mraqisa was not spared. The close protector to Deputy Police Minister, Cassel Mathale was one of five people killed in a drive-by shooting on Saturday evening in Gugulethu. Police reports indicate that four men and a woman were shot and killed when the parked car they were sitting in, was shot at. Three suspects are being sought for this crime, as police piece together valuable clues to make a breakthrough in the case. On the 25th of September, five men aged between 46 and 52 were shot and killed while sitting inside two vehicles parked on Fenqe Street in KTC Gugulethu. Seven suspects have been identified and police are hot on the heels of the suspects. On the 25th of September, another shooting took place this time in Ravensmead. Anti-Gang Unit investigators are investigating the deadly shooting that claimed the lives of three men. Commissioner, Arrests cannot be a luxury or a nice to have. Whatever the motive for these shootings and murders is, decisive police action and robust community involvement is urgent, if we are to put an end to this. All policing resources and efforts must not be spared, for anyone or any grouping that attempts to cause fear and panic through violence and death. This is the only way we can ensure that such crimes do not repeat or become a weekly occurrence, as we saw in the recent past. Police have worked hard in putting behind bars those who were responsible for the deadly shootings. It is clear, there is a new crop of criminals who want to claim their space and believe in using brazen violence to do so. They must be stopped; at all costs. It is on this score we are reinforcing policing, As a preventative measure, a decision has been made to saturate the area with different disciplines of SAPS combat units operating within the Gugulethu area. These operations will be extended to the Cape Flats, guided by crime pattern analysis; to enable communities to live a peaceful life. We also believe a change in the management of the Gugulethu police station and general policing precinct, will go a long way in stabilising the area. The reinforcement of policing interventions includes the capacitation of the Anti-Gang Unit and the broader detective capacity in the province; which is in line with the National Programme of re- enlistment of Detectives back in the SAPS Over and above these National Interventions, an additional 2600 more SAPS trainees who are currently training in police colleges, will be much needed force multipliers when they graduate in the next two months. They will be deployed to high crime areas; especially in the Cape flats We also call on the community to come forward with information that can assist in any police investigations. Someone Somehow. Somewhere, Knows Something! I wish to end my address by emphasizing the point that South Africa is not and will never be a haven for criminals. The long arm of the law will not be selective nor will it be kind. The wheels of justice do turn, as is the case with wanted suspect Ralph Stanfield, who with his partner and two other accused appeared before a magistrate on Monday. The ministry joined the national and provincial management team in attending the court case We also commended the police for bringing to book an individual who has been a subject of numerous police investigations around other crimes that too have brought fear and violence to the people of this province. To such an extent that potential witnesses were forced into exile due to threats and intimidation. The case is in line with our stance as the SAPS to squeeze the space on organized crime in South Africa. Thus far, investigations into this case should also reveal and dismantle the organised crime syndicate in the province. In other news, the Ministry and police management would like to send their thoughts and prayers to 9 officers in Cape Town who were injured in a motor vehicle accident on the N2 on Monday. Police reports show that a truck which lost its load and fell on the convoy of police cars they were travelling in. We wish the members a speedy recovery. I thank you. Ends
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