LEAP achieve more successes during April

Between 03 and 30 April 2023, the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers once again made their presence felt across the priority areas where they are deployed. LEAP officers arrested 1 044 individuals for various offences, while confiscating 26 firearms. These consisted of 17 unlawful and 9 imitation firearms. LEAP is an initiative of the Western Cape Government (WCG) and is run in partnership with the City of Cape Town.

Amongst others, the arrests included:

- 16 for the possession of illegal firearms

- 7 for the possession of imitation firearms

- 43 for the possession of dangerous weapons and

- 763 for the possession of drugs 

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen said: “Criminals should know that our LEAP officers will continue to do everything possible to create safer communities. Along with reducing the murder rate by 50% by 2029, ensuring safer areas for our residents to live in, remain a primary priority. This is part of the reason why the Western Cape Safety Plan (WCSP) was introduced in 2019.” 

LEAP is strategically deployed, and its operations are based on evidence and data. This approach is also used as part of monitoring and evaluation to determine the effectiveness of LEAP and inform a cycle of continuous improvement. This includes our top 10 murder areas in the Western Cape, such as Delft, Gugulethu, Harare, Khayelitsha (Site B policing precinct), Kraaifontein, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga, Philippi East, and Samora Machel. Other high crime areas in which they are deployed are Atlantis, Bishop Lavis and Hanover Park, along with Lavender Hill, Steenberg and Grassy Park. 

During the same period, LEAP officers have amongst others:

• Searched 39 153 persons,

• Searched 1 311 houses,

• Conducted 316 roadblocks and

• Searched 3 560 vehicles.

LEAP officers work with a multitude of law enforcement agencies which is inclusive of other City of Cape Town Law Enforcement Agencies, the South African Police Service (SAPS), neighbourhood watches (NHWs), Community Policing Forums (CPFs) and various other stakeholders. There were 881 Integrated and joint operations during this period.

“We all have a role to play in eradicating crime, and the more we work together towards this goal, the greater our joint successes will be,” concluded Minister Reagen Allen.