Minister Marais condemns deadly gang-related shootings in Grassy Park and Manenberg
Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has condemned the latest gang-related shootings in Grassy Park and Manenberg .
The shooting in Lotus River, where four men lost their lives and another was seriously injured, as well as the shooting in Manenberg that claimed the life of a young man and left several others injured, including a SAPS member, are stark reminders of the devastating impact that criminal gangs continue to have on communities across the Cape Flats.
Minister Marais said, “I condemn these senseless acts of violence in the strongest possible terms. No community should be subjected to the constant threat of gun violence, and no family should have to endure the heartbreak caused by these ruthless criminals.”
“I call on the South African Police Service to utilise every available resource to ensure that those responsible for these shootings are identified, apprehended, and successfully prosecuted. The perpetrators must be removed from our communities and face the full might of the law,” Minister Marais added.
Minister Marais said the persistent shootings and killings demand extraordinary measures. She noted that it is increasingly evident that conventional approaches alone are not sufficient to deal with the entrenched gang violence that continues to plague affected areas. She therefore urged law enforcement authorities to urgently review and strengthen their strategy to disarm criminal gangs and disrupt their operations.
Minister Marais further stated that available intelligence should be used proactively to identify gang strongholds, locate illegal firearms, and facilitate targeted operations aimed at locking down affected areas with the support of the South African National Defense Force and systematically disarming criminal groupings. She emphasised that every illegal firearm recovered has the potential to save lives and prevent further bloodshed.
She also appealed to residents to continue working with law enforcement agencies by reporting information relating to illegal firearms, gang activity, and those who harbour criminals. Minister Marais said communities possess valuable information that can assist authorities in locating weapons and bringing offenders to justice.
Citizens can report information anonymously through the following channels:
- SAPS Crime Stop: 08600 10111
- MySAPS Mobile Application
- City of Cape Town Tip-Off Line: 0800 110077
“All information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. By working together, we can send a clear message that violence will not be tolerated in our communities,” Minister Marais concluded.
Media Enquiries:
Kurt Nefdt
Acting MLO to Minister Anroux Marais
Cell: 084 285 1975
Email: Kurt.Nefdt@westerncape.gov.za