In response to ongoing violence and organised crime in the Cape Flats, Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis have announced the immediate establishment of a police station in Mfuleni. The city has provided 380 square metres of municipal office space to fast-track the project, which aims to improve police visibility and response times.
The announcement follows visits this week to Mfuleni and Mitchells Plain by Cachalia, Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel, Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo, and National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola. These visits form part of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster’s ongoing campaign to address rising gang violence and organised crime, which has claimed numerous lives in recent months.
Provincial Community Policing Forum (CPF) Chairperson Fransina Lukas welcomed the decision, saying it would bring critical services closer to residents. “The residents really expressed their wish to have a station close to them, where they can access the police when needed. Currently, the station is in Blue Downs, and people from Mfuleni, Dresden, Happy Valley, and West Bank feel the police station is too far away. They cannot access the service without taking, in some instances, two taxis,” Lukas explained.
She said the move would not only improve accessibility but also boost residents’ sense of safety. Referring to a recent viral video showing the shooting of five men in Happy Valley, Lukas described the incident as “disturbing scenes for everyone, definitely highlighting and underscoring the situation going on in that area.” She added, “Criminals are acting with impunity, knowing that response time from the police can be anything from an hour to two hours. It’s long overdue and really needed by the communities.”
Officials said the new station will strengthen policing efforts and reinforce partnerships between law enforcement and local communities to combat crime effectively.
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