Premier cautiously welcomes SANDF deployment but calls for urgent SAPS reform

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) in addressing the ongoing scourge of gang violence in the Western Cape.

Gang-related crime continues to devastate communities across our province, claiming innocent lives and undermining the safety and stability of families, neighbourhoods and local economies. The gravity of this ongoing carnage demands us to welcome every bit of help provided.

Premier Winde said, “I welcome the long overdue focus on gangsterism and the commitment to lifestyle audits for senior SAPS members. We have long been calling for these measures. The deployment of SANDF is a short term solution and cannot be a replacement for reforming the SAPS. Investigative powers must be shared with local police structures, vacancies must be filled and crime intelligence must be prioritised.”

Police Oversight and Community Safety Minister Marais said,” I must reiterate that the deployment of the SANDF cannot be viewed as a sustainable, long-term solution to the deeply rooted problem of gang violence. Lasting change will only be achieved through a well-resourced, properly capacitated and intelligence-driven police service that is able to prevent crime, dismantle criminal networks and secure successful prosecutions.”

We call on the President and the Acting National Minister of Police to prioritise the urgent capacitation of SAPS in the Western Cape. This must include:

1). Strengthening crime intelligence capabilities in the province to ensure proactive, coordinated and informed operations against gang structures;

2). Properly resourcing police precincts, particularly in gang-affected areas, with adequate personnel, specialised units and investigative capacity; and

3). Ensuring that detectives and forensic services are sufficiently supported to improve case outcomes and conviction rates.

In addition, we once again emphasise the immediate benefits that would flow from the expansion of certain policing powers to the municipal level, specifically the investigation of gun- and gang-related crimes. Such a reform would provide an immediate boost to investigative capacity within the province, enabling more focused interventions and strengthening our ability to secure higher conviction rates.

The Western Cape Government remains committed to working collaboratively with all spheres of government to protect our residents. Our communities deserve a sustained, intelligence-led and properly resourced response to gang violence. One that addresses both the immediate crisis and the systemic weaknesses that allow criminal networks to flourish.