Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has welcomed the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to support SAPS in gang crime hotspots, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement at Thursday’s State of the Nation Address.
“Any short-term relief for families in gang-impacted communities is most welcome, and our City police will be on hand to support SAPS and the SANDF, as will our safety technology,” Hill-Lewis said.
At the same time, Hill-Lewis highlighted the need for longer-term measures.
“While we welcome the army, it is only a short-term solution. We urge you to act now on real solutions to increase gang crime convictions by devolving more powers to City police. Our officers are ready to build prosecution-ready case dockets.”
The City submitted proposals to acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia in August 2025, requesting expanded investigative powers for municipal officers, including criminal investigations and information-gathering related to gang crime.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, said SANDF deployment can stabilise communities temporarily.
“Only a functioning criminal justice system will keep communities safe,” he said.
Data from the City shows an increase of over 1,200 municipal officers since 2021, while SAPS numbers have declined across Cape Town precincts.
Photo: Vocfm
