SAPS devolution only option as SAPS members decrease in Western Cape and worsens chaos
The Cape Flats is currently being burdened with ongoing gang violence with residents living in fear. Statistics recently revealed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) perfectly explains why the situation is totally out of control. There are currently 804 fewer police officers situated at stations in the Western Cape Province than there were in 2017.
Ricardo Mackenzie, member of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature, explained that approximately 71% of the Western Cape’s 151 police stations have seen a decrease in the number of officers allocated to them during the past five years. The latest Recorded Crime Statistics between October and December 2021 reveals a dramatic increase in contact crimes, attempted murders (up to 162,5% increase) and robberies. Some examples given of the disparities in police-to-population ratios are as follows: Wynberg – 1:201 and Gugulethu – 1:773.
Action Society calls for federalism. “It is time for police devolution to become a reality! Policing under national ANC control is a disaster and can never improve under direct management of such a corruption-burdened party. It is not about politics; it is about the safety of civilians. We fully support the deployment of LEAP officers and see this as a good start to get federalism going,” said Ian Cameron, Director of Community Safety at Action Society.
Provincial government has deployed 1 056 Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers to crime hotspots in the Western Cape. Units like the Metro Police Gang and Drug Task Team and Tactical Response Unit are also conducting patrols to increase visible policing efforts in support of SAPS.
The Cape Flats has been in the news the past week after a sudden increase in gang violence where a former gang member from the area was shot dead in Lansdowne. Gang leadership is the reason for the current violence. Residents, daily fearing for their lives, tell that they hardly see any police vans in the area and that police are too scared to patrol there.
SAPS invites anyone with information about this incident to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
“After the results of the survey Action Society published yesterday showed that only 2% of people will call 10111 during emergencies, this invitation from SAPS is almost a joke. If people cannot see SAPS making an effort to stop these shootings and killings, why would anyone even consider phoning them with information?” Cameron stated.
“Innocent people are getting killed because of a police force having no control. In the midst of these circumstances SAPS makes insane decisions to decrease the numbers of deployed officers which only worsens the situation. Action Society will keep on fighting for people hiding under their beds while they fear for their lives.”
