The South African Police Service (SAPS) has increased the number of police officers in Gugulethu after two mass shootings within one week shook the suburb.
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At a media briefing on Tuesday, Police Minister Bheki Cele vowed to overhaul the management of the precinct’s police station, adding that decisive action was being taken.
‘Whatever the motive for these shootings and murders are, decisive police action and robust community involvement is urgent if we are to put an end to this.’
‘All policing resources and efforts must not be spared for anyone or any grouping that attempts to cause fear and panic through violence and death. This is the only way we can ensure that such crimes do not repeat or become a weekly occurrence, as we saw in the recent past.’
He added that more than 100 people were killed in the Western Cape within the span of one week, stating that ‘thugs’ had been ‘trying to unleash fear and terrorism in communities such as Gugulethu’.
‘The shootings have been ruthless, killing women and children, professionals, breadwinners and even one of our own, Warrant Officer Lindela Mraqisa was not spared.’
Mraqisa, who was one of Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale’s bodyguards, was one of five people killed in a recent mass shooting on Saturday evening. According to Cele, three suspects are being sought for this crime.
As per News24, a second mass shooting that resulted in five deaths occurred on Monday, 25 September. Cele said that seven suspects have been identified in the shooting, and one arrest has been made.
As a preventative measure, the area will be ‘saturated’ with SAPS units.
‘These operations will be extended to the Cape Flats, guided by crime pattern analysis; to enable communities to live a peaceful life,’ says Cele. ‘We also believe a change in the management of the Gugulethu police station and general policing precinct will go a long way in stabilising the area.’
In addition, the Anti-Gang Unit and detective branches will be mobilised to support the effort, and 2 600 trainees will be deployed in the province once they graduate in two months.
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Linda Kabeni, Community Policing Forum’s (CPF) spokesperson, welcomes the increased number of officers deployed to the area. ‘This will bring about some hope for the residents because we need it. The increase in murders has resulted in many of us losing hope in getting this area to be safe. But now that the SAPS senior officials have decided to intervene, we welcome it with open arms.’
‘For a very long time, there has been a shortage of vans in the area and a shortage of police staff to patrol in the area. Because of this, crime has escalated. It’s sad that we had to have these murders before serious action was taken by the minister of police.’
‘The CPF hopes that this intervention is not just for the next few days but that it lasts for a very long time so that the criminals know it must stop, it has to stop! Our people can’t be living in fear like this,’ he said, adding that the forum was planning a crime prevention march.
‘We are planning a march to demonstrate our unhappiness with the increase in crime in the area and we are calling on all residents to march with us so that our voices can be heard. Crime and murders have no place in Gugulethu anymore.’
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