Statement by Minister Dan Plato - Airport shooting condemned

Statement by Dan Plato, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety

Airport shooting condemned

Date: 18 October 2017

Release: Immediate

I condemn in the strongest possible manner the shooting which took place at the upper roadway of the Cape Town International Airport this morning.

The brazen shooting, alleged to be gang related, has injured an innocent bystander as well as a well-known alleged gang boss – who the bullets were apparently intended for.

The total disregard for the law and the lives of the public at a National Key Point requires an in-depth investigation by the police, assisted by intelligence agencies.

The investigation’s scope has to ensure that not only those responsible for the shooting face the full might of the law, but also that the reasons for the shooting and those implicated in these reasons are investigated and held accountable for any illegal or criminal actions.

As part of my oversight mandate over policing in the province and in the interest of public safety, I visited the Cape Town International Airport this morning and met with key security personnel. I wish to assure the public that airport security and on-site police responded immediately to this unforeseen incident and have already met on how to further sharpen existing security measures to help prevent any future incident – both outside and inside the terminal.

As we approach the festive season, I urge all major private businesses, privately owned public spaces, shopping centres or complexes to ensure that their security systems are adequately geared to help ensure public safety through incident prevention and early detection.

I urge the private sector to work with their local police, law enforcement and safety services in this regard. The Department of Community Safety remains a willing partner to help broker the necessary relationships between government agencies, safety stakeholders, security industry and private business to help see to it that the public’s safety remains the main concern throughout the upcoming festive season. I will also be engaging in safety oversight visits, where possible.

I call on anyone with information regarding today’s incident to report it to their closest police station. We have to speak out against all crime in our united efforts against crime.