The Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers are continuing their efforts to eradicate illegal firearms from communities. From 31 July to 3 September, LEAP officers confiscated 16 firearms and successfully made 1 160 arrests for various criminal offences.
LEAP is a collaborative initiative between the Western Cape Government (WCG) and the City of Cape Town (CoCT), stemming from the Western Cape Safety Plan (WCSP).
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The firearms that were confiscated are:
- A homemade firearm in Kuils River
- A revolver and a firearm in Manenberg
- A pistol and two zip guns in Mfuleni
- A zip gun and a pistol in Kraaifontein
- A firearm in Gugulethu
- A riffle in Harare
- A revolver and a pistol in Delft
- Two zip guns in Samora Machel
- A pistol in Nyanga
- A firearm in Mitchells Plain
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Since its inception, the LEAP team has confiscated a total of 443 illegal firearms.
Among others, the arrests during the period of 31 July to 3 September included:
- 16 arrests were made for the possession of illegal firearms (8) and zip guns (8)
- 13 arrests were made for the possession of imitation firearms
- 110 arrests were made for the possession of dangerous weapons
- 680 arrests were made for the possession of drugs
- 19 arrests were made for dealing in drugs
Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Reagen Allen, said: ‘We launched our LEAP officers in 2020 in an effort to tackle the drivers and causes of murders in the most violent areas across the metro. They work in extremely difficult circumstances. I thank them for never allowing the challenging task to sway them from fulfilling their duties, which amongst others is to assist us in creating safer communities in these hotspot areas.’
LEAP is strategically deployed, and its operations are based on evidence and data in the top 10 murder areas in the Western Cape, which are Delft, Gugulethu, Harare, Khayelitsha (Site B policing precinct), Kraaifontein, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga, Philippi East and Samora Machel. The officers are also deployed to other high-crime areas such as Atlantis, Bishop Lavis and Hanover Park, along with Lavender Hill, Steenberg and Grassy Park.
LEAP’s operations are based on evidence and data and its officers work with a multitude of law enforcement agencies, including 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. Collaboration and cooperation across the board will stand us in good stead if we are to achieve our goal of creating communities where our residents can live in a safe, improved and dignified manner,’ concluded Minister Reagen Allen.
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Picture: Supplied
