LEAP stats support General Patekile's call: Municipal policing powers must be expanded
Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has welcomed the remarks made by outgoing Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, supporting the expansion of certain policing powers to capable municipal law enforcement agencies.
The consistent reduction in murders within LEAP deployment areas over successive reporting periods continues to demonstrate the value of this targeted intervention at provincial and municipal level. Notably, the combined LEAP deployment areas outperformed the rest of the province across all four reporting quarters during the 2025/2026 financial year, recording larger decreases in murder and even maintaining a downward trend when the provincial trend moved in the opposite direction. These results provide compelling evidence that strategic investments in municipal law enforcement, working in partnership with SAPS, can have a measurable impact on reducing serious and violent crime in some of our most vulnerable communities.
The latest operational results further underscore the critical role LEAP officers play in supporting SAPS. During the five-week period from 27 April to 31 May 2026, LEAP officers searched more than 24 800 persons and 1 180 houses, conducted 225 roadblocks, searched over 2 500 vehicles, executed more than 2 500 evidence-based hotspot patrols, participated in 601 joint operations with SAPS and effected 1 046 arrests. They also removed 15 firearms, 99 rounds of ammunition, significant quantities of illegal drugs, hundreds of litres of illicit liquor and numerous stolen items from communities.
These interventions generate a substantial volume of criminal cases and investigative work. If municipal law enforcement agencies were empowered to investigate certain categories of offences arising from these arrests and seizures, it would significantly ease the burden on SAPS detectives, enabling them to dedicate greater resources to serious and complex investigations while improving the overall effectiveness of the criminal justice system.
In a recent media interview, Lt Gen Patekile indicated that municipal law enforcement agencies could be empowered to investigate and process straightforward offences such as drunken driving and common assault matters, thereby allowing SAPS detectives to focus on more specialised investigations and serious crimes.
Minister Marais said, “the Police Commissioner’s comments reinforce a long-standing position of the Western Cape Government. The Western Cape Government has consistently argued that capable municipalities should be granted additional policing powers to better assist in the fight against crime. We have formally communicated this position to the Acting Minister of Police, Professor Cachalia, during recent engagements and continue to advocate for practical reforms that will strengthen law enforcement capacity across all spheres of government."
Minister Marais said South Africa's detectives are carrying unacceptably high caseloads, often resulting in delays in investigations to the frustration of victims.
"Allowing municipal agencies with the necessary capacity to investigate certain categories of offences would immediately ease pressure on SAPS detectives. Matters such as petty drug offences, drunken driving cases, common assaults and minor property-related crimes could be dealt with at municipal level, freeing SAPS members to focus on organised crime syndicates, gang violence, murders, extortion networks and other serious violent crimes", Minister Marais said.
Such a reform could prove transformative in the fight against organised crime.
Minister Marais further noted that government currently has a unique opportunity to maximise the impact of ongoing crime-fighting interventions. With members of the South African National Defence Force already deployed to support law enforcement under Operation Prosper, now is the ideal time to advance legislative and policy reforms that will strengthen the entire law enforcement system.
Minister Marais called on the Acting National Minister of Police to urgently advance discussions and legislative processes necessary to enable capable municipalities to assume greater policing responsibilities.
Minister Marais said, "I urge the Acting National Minister of Police to move with urgency in facilitating the expansion of policing powers to municipalities that have demonstrated the capacity, professionalism and accountability required to exercise them responsibly. Communities cannot afford further delays."
Minister Marais said that greater collaboration between national, provincial and local government law enforcement agencies will not only improve crime-fighting outcomes but also help restore public confidence in the criminal justice system.
"When criminals are arrested, investigated efficiently and successfully prosecuted, public trust grows. Our residents deserve safer communities and a law enforcement system that is equipped to meet the challenges of modern policing", Minister Marais concluded.
Media Enquiries:
Kurt Nefdt
Acting Media Liaison Officer to Minister Anroux Marais
Cell: 084 285 1975
Email: Kurt.Nefdt@westerncape.gov.za