Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has expressed grave concern over the rising tide of violent crime in the city, accentuated by the latest Quarterly Crime Stats,
In light of the unsettling statistics, which highlight high levels of gang, gun, and drug-related offences, the Mayor is demanding an immediate increase in the conviction rates for these crimes.
He emphasised the City’s readiness to allocate resources to bolster legal prosecutions and ultimately curtail criminal activity.
‘These latest crime stats make it clear that violent crime continues to plague some of our most vulnerable communities,’ said Hill-Lewis. He pointed out that gang activity is the unfortunate common thread among Cape Town precincts that rank among the top 30 national stations for murder.
However, he noted a slight silver lining in the consecutive declines in murder rates across Nyanga, Philippi East, and Khayelitsha—three areas benefitting from the deployment of the City’s LEAP (Law Enforcement Advancement Plan) officers who work alongside the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Hill-Lewis also commended police efforts in seizing illegal firearms and drugs, but lamented the fact that these actions have not led to a higher conviction rate.
Currently, Hill-Lewis noted, only 5% of cases involving seized firearms result in convictions, attributing this poor statistic to the fragmented criminal justice system and the under-resourced nature of both SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
‘The Acting Police Minister has the power to change this situation in various ways,’ Hill-Lewis urged, advocating for urgent resourcing of SAPS.
He specifically called for the expansion of draft municipal policing powers to allow for more effective enforcement of the law. ‘With more policing powers for our City officers to investigate crime, we are ready to build prosecution-ready case dockets to secure more convictions for gang, gun, and drug crime,’ he asserted.
In a bold statement, Hill-Lewis likened the current crime statistics to ‘a black Friday’ for public safety but offered a glimmer of hope, saying that the City stands willing to provide ‘100% more investigative capacity’ to assist SAPS in turning the tide against crime.
Recent data released by the City underlines the growing role of its policing resources, noting an addition of 1,263 officers to the streets since 2021 an increase of 48% while SAPS has experienced a decline of approximately 1,300 officers, or 15%. Additionally, the City has more than 560 additional policing vehicles operational when compared to SAPS’s fleet.
Mayco for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith reinforced the urgency of the situation, highlighting the significant investments made by the City to enhance community safety.
The withdrawal of officers from SAPS and the increasingly heavy workloads on detectives have been cited as major barriers to effectively prosecuting criminal activity.
‘Our statistics show that over a three-month period, the NSOs (Neighbourhood Safety Officers) have made numerous drug-related arrests, but the low conviction rate continues to be the biggest stumbling block,’ said Smith.
Moreover, a recent parliamentary reply reveals that vacancy rates within SAPS range from 20% to 40% across most precincts in Cape Town. According to reports, there are currently 200 vacant detective posts, exacerbating the challenges faced by an already strained police force.
As Cape Town grapples with the urgent need for reform in its criminal justice approach, Hill-Lewis asserted that the city’s enforcement agencies stand poised to assist SAPS in addressing the pervasive gang violence that continues to disrupt communities.
However, they stress that success in tackling crime will hinge on substantial reforms and the granting of further policing powers.
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Picture: Unsplash
Source: City of Cape Town
