The City of Cape Town has reportedly redeployed additional policing resources to support police operations targeting known gang and extortion hotspots. This follows the recent mass shooting incidents that have rocked the Cape Metro.
The redeployment also follows the confiscation of an assault rifle in Gugulethu on Saturday evening. According to Safety and Security mayoral Committee Member, JP Smith, the discovery of the rifle came on the back of a mass shooting in Gugulethu on Saturday morning that left seven people dead.
According to the City, Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers were on patrol in Gugulethu on Saturday evening when they stopped a vehicle during stop and search operations.
Officers spotted a silver VW Polo, and while the driver initially tried to get away, he was quickly pulled over. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded assault rifle.
The driver and passenger were arrested and detained at Gugulethu SAPS.
“The kind of firepower in the hands of criminals is of grave concern. The use of assault rifles is becoming far too commonplace in Cape Town, but also elsewhere in the country,” says Smith
Smith added that the flow of guns onto the streets and into the wrong hands must be stemmed, and the City is ready to step up and play a bigger role if given more policing power.
READ MORE: Mchunu orders immediate crackdown after Cape Town mass killings
Weekly City enforcement operations
In general enforcement efforts over the past week, the City’s enforcement agencies made 204 arrests and recorded 18,654 traffic and bylaw offences.
Law Enforcement Officers made 145 arrests and issued 6,075 notices for various offences.
Traffic officers arrested 12 motorists – 11 for driving under the influence and one for reckless and negligent driving. They also recorded 18,352 offences, impounded 185 public transport vehicles and executed 951 warrants of arrest.
Metro Police Officers arrested 47 suspects and confiscated drugs, which included mandrax, dagga and heroin.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) recorded 1,546 incidents over the weekend, including 99 cases of assault, 59 cases of domestic violence and 82 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.
“The uptick in assault, domestic violence and road accidents is par for the course on a payday weekend. While the adverse weather kept many people indoors or prompted them to stay off the roads, it didn’t mean a quiet weekend for officers,” added Alderman Smith.
