Cape Town is facing a dangerous surge in gang-related violence, prompting urgent calls for specialised intervention from Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. Over the span of just two weeks, 18 people have lost their lives, sparking national concern and highlighting deep-rooted crime issues in the Western Cape.
Minister Mchunu addressed the crisis during his budget speech in the National Assembly on Friday. He emphasised that gang violence has spiraled to a point where regular policing is no longer enough and called for stronger, intelligence-driven operations to curb criminal activity.
Mchunu Calls for Targeted Crime Crackdown
Speaking on the state of safety in the country, Mchunu pointed out that violent crime is largely concentrated in four provinces: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape. He made it clear that these provinces now require specialised policing units and more resources to battle what he described as a deepening security threat.
The minister revealed that authorities have identified 225 crime hotspots, which demand targeted and intelligence-led interventions. According to him, these areas will see heightened policing efforts that go beyond the current strategies, including the ongoing Operation Shanela.
“From the 22nd of June to the 4th of July, we witnessed four separate waves of gang violence in Cape Town alone, resulting in 18 murders,” Mchunu stated. “This trend is a clear signal that standard deployments are no longer effective. We must respond with precision and urgency.”
Mchunu’s remarks come amid growing pressure from communities in Cape Town who have been pleading for protection and relief from escalating gang wars. The violence has not only taken lives but has also affected schooling, business operations, and daily living in several neighbourhoods.
The minister underlined the importance of intelligence-based deployment, saying that specialised crime units would be dispatched to the most affected zones. He also stressed that law enforcement must not just respond to crime, but anticipate it.
The Western Cape government, along with national law enforcement bodies, is now expected to collaborate more closely in implementing these interventions. Mchunu has vowed that his department will ensure that resources are fast-tracked and placed where they are most needed.
As the country grapples with rising crime levels, the spotlight remains on how effectively the government can neutralise gang networks while restoring public confidence. Communities in the affected areas are now looking to see how quickly and efficiently these promises will be fulfilled.
