Calls for more policing on Cape Flats amid increase in murders

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, have now joined calls for more local policing control in the Cape Metropole.

This comes after the DA MP revealed that nearly 40 people were murdered in Mfuleni last month, which is a 62% increase compared to the same period last year.

In a statement, Cameron noted that in August, murder cases more than doubled in Mfuleni, from 17 murder cases in August 2024 to 36 murder cases in August 2025.

“That’s 19 people in one community whose lives were cut short in August alone,” added Cameron

The chairperson further noted that Kraaifontein, Mitchells Plain and Delft all recorded double-digit murder counts, with each station reportedly showing sharp increases compared to last year. In one of these areas, murders jumped by more than 60%.

Khayelitsha reportedly also saw a steep increase in killings, up by nearly 40%.

“Residents are being buried while national police leadership dodges the issue of devolving powers,”

Cameron has, however, welcomed the successful seizure of 19 illegal firearms, over 1,200 rounds of ammunition, 3 gun safes, 26 magazines, a stun grenade, a silencer, and a shooting practice target board.

All these illegal firearms and ammunition were concealed in cooler boxes and safes in a house in Lentegeur, Mitchell’s Plain. Police seized the illegal firearms cache in a targeted, intelligence-driven operation on Monday afternoon.

“These operations save lives. But they are not enough on their own. Sustained, intelligence-led policing and local control are critical.”

Cameron has now called on the national government to allow the Western Cape Province and the City of Cape Town more policing powers to deal with this continued increase in crime.

“We need more local policing control, now.”