Note to editors: Please find soundbite by Tertuis Simmers
The Western Cape SAPS is on the verge of total collapse with detectives overwhelmingly overloaded with cases and a shortage of active officers.
DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Police Oversight and Community Benedicta van Minnen MPP highlighted the severe crisis in SAPS and is holding the National Police Commissioner and Acting Police Minister accountable for the failures.
Every week, families in our province mourn loved ones who have been gunned down in their own streets and homes. Mothers bury sons, children lose parents, and communities live in constant fear not because of a lack of will to fight crime, but because national government has failed to provide the policing resources our people deserve.
The DA will not stand by while innocent lives are destroyed by the collapse of SAPS. We deeply care about every life lost, and we will keep fighting for real safety and justice for every resident.
Just last week, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis also revealed that SAPS deployment in Cape Town is declining.
Cape Town has lost 1 313 SAPS officers over the last five years and have fewer SAPS vehicles. That means fewer detectives, fewer patrols, and longer response times.
While the national police shrink, the City of Cape Town stepped in, training over 1 000 new Metro Police and Law Enforcement officers and deploying more vehicles.
The Western Cape Government and many of its municipalities have been fighting for safer communities, innovating where we govern and supporting SAPS within the legislative framework.
Since the inception of the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) in 2020, it has proven gain:
• Total persons arrested: 45 447
• Total drug-related arrests: 31 237
• Total illegal firearms seized: 841
Despite LEAP’s impact, more can and should be done.
For far too long, the Western Cape has been held hostage by the scourge of crime and gang violence.
The DA Western Cape has, therefore, introduced the Power To Protect campaign.
With a stroke of the pen, the Acting Minister Police can devolve policing powers to capable municipalities by amending Section 64E (c) of the SAPS Act to “the prevention and investigation of crime”.
We are also calling on the Justice and Constitutional Development Minister to replace Schedule in Government Notice 1114, by expanding powers of municipal peace officers to respond to a wider variety of crimes.
These ministers need to subdue politicking and put the people first. Our residents deserve and desperately need safer communities.
Residents wanting safer communities are encouraged to sign the petition: https://petitions.da.org.za/p/morepolicingpowersforsafercommunities