LEAP officers confiscate 28 firearms during September

The Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers have once again made their presence felt, when they removed illegal firearms from various communities. Between 4 September and 1 October 2023, LEAP officers confiscated 28 firearms. During the same period, the officers also arrested 1 068 suspects for various crimes. LEAP, which stems from the Western Cape Safety Plan (WCSP) is an initiative of the Western Cape Government (WCG) in partnership with the City of Cape Town (CoCT).

The firearms confiscated are:

- 2x Firearm, 2x Pistols and 1x in Bishop Lavis, 

- 1x Revolver and 1x Firearm in Manenberg,

- 1x Revolver and 1x Pistol in Khayelitsha,

- 1x Handgun and 2x Zip Guns in Mfuleni,

- 1x Revolver in Kraaifontein,

- 1x Pistol and FIVE Zip guns in Harare,

- 1x Firearm and 1x Pistol in Delft,

- 1x Zip Gun and 1x Revolver in Samora Machel

- 3x Pistol and 1x Revolver in Nyanga and

- 1x Zip gun in Mitchells Plain

Since its inception, our LEAP officers have now confiscated a total of 471 illegal firearms. 

Amongst others, the arrests included:

- 30 for the possession of illegal firearms,

- 17 for the possession of imitation firearms,

- 88 for the possession of dangerous weapons,

- 641 for the possession of drugs and 

- 24 for dealing in drugs.

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, said: “These firearms confiscations are extremely vital in our fight against murders. Firearms continue to be the weapon of choice which criminals use to commit their heinous crimes. Various fatal shootings were recorded during September and part of October, which cannot continue unabated. As the Western Cape Government, we are deeply concerned about the recent violence. This has us more determined to combat and address the current trend of violence.”

LEAP officers are strategically deployed, and their 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. 

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. 

“As the Western Cape Government, we will continue to support our LEAP officers, as through their interventions with various stakeholders, they are ensuring that we work towards our goal which is to halve the murder rate by 2029. We are grateful for our LEAP officers, as they operate in challenging conditions. Our call is for community members to support our officers as they are working tirelessly to ensure safer areas where our residents can live in an improved and dignified manner,” concluded Minister Reagen Allen.