Minister Fritz conducts urgent visit to Mitchells Plain SAPS

Minister Fritz conducts urgent visit to Mitchells Plain SAPS, visits families of deceased following mass shootings

Following the spate of mass shootings in Mitchells Plain over the past weekend, the Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, urgently visited Mitchells Plain SAPS to conduct oversight on their efforts to curb the ensuing gang violence in surrounding communities. This was followed by a visit to some of the families of the deceased and injured today.

Minister Fritz was joined by Councillor Solly Philander and officials from Mitchells Plain SAPS in his visits to those affected families. 

Minister Fritz said, “In line with my constitutional mandate of conducting oversight over policing in the Western Cape, I visited the Mitchells Plain SAPS where I met with SAPS officials and discussed their plan to put a stop to the widespread shootings in Mitchells Plain. I wish to thank them for their tireless efforts so far but also ask of them to leave no stone unturned in their investigations and ensure that those guilty parties are arrested and convicted.”

Minister Fritz added, “It is disgraceful that criminal elements are terrorizing our most vulnerable communities in Mitchells Plain through mass shootings. Upon visiting some of the affected families, it is clear to me that the communities have been deeply traumatized by these shootings and I have committed to assist those affected families with information and support where needed.”

Minister Fritz added further, “The Department of Community Safety will be expediting the rollout of additional law enforcement and violence prevention efforts through the establishment of Area Based Teams (ABT) in communities most affected by violent crime. Mitchells Plain will be included in the second phase of ABT rollouts and will temporarily have a deployment of LEAP law enforcement officers, which we hope to make permanent.”

Minister Fritz concluded, “In an unrelated incident, I unconditionally condemn the shooting and killing of two police officers in Bloekombos, Kraaifontein on Sunday. SAPS have instituted a 72-hour action plan in search of the perpetrators. An attack on our police service is not only cowardly, but further an attack on the state and must be treated as such.”

Anyone with information which could assist SAPS in their investigations is urged to immediately come forward and report such either to their local SAPS, call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the TipOff function on the MySAPS cellphone application.”