The City of Cape Town notes the latest crime statistics released by the SAPS on Friday, 19 November 2021.

While the number of serious and violent crime incidents remain unacceptably high, the City is heartened by the stabilising trends in some of Cape Town’s policing precincts.

The role played by local government in policing continues to increase in scope as the resources of the national police service continue to be eroded, having lost 551 staff here over the last three years and with billions of rand of budget cuts this year and in the coming years.

As the City we have not thrown our hands up or insisted that crime prevention is the function of national government.  The City has found every possible way to increase the boots on the ground, whether through rent-a-cops sponsored by business communities, reservists in the form of our Law Enforcement Auxiliary Service or innovations and partnerships such as the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan, which has put around 1 100 officers on the streets of the 10 worst crime-affected communities with hopefully more to follow.

The 55% increase in law enforcement resources in the City and the resultant tripling of the arrests made by our officers in the City is bearing fruit. In announcing the most recent crime statistics, Minister Cele has acknowledged that the Western Cape was the only province where the murder rate had reduced and the statistics show that they have reduced in the very areas where LEAP has been deployed.

It is our hope that this trend can continue going forward, through effective multi-agency cooperation, increased investment in resources and technology, but also through solidifying partnerships and building new ones between communities and enforcement agencies. The LEAP deployment not only deters crime, but has also helped increase our arrest rate. The City’s Metro Police, Law Enforcement and Traffic Service make on average 200 arrests each week.

These members are making a valuable contribution to the fight against crime alongside their SAPS counterparts, but we need more resources in SAPS, particularly the capacity to investigate cases and bring perpetrators to justice. The crime statistics on their own do not paint a complete picture. We need to know how many of the crimes recorded result in arrests and convictions. The City’s resources are modest by comparison to that of SAPS, but it would be a misstep to disregard their efforts. We acknowledge their hard work and dedication, and the difference that they are making on the streets, day after day.

In the past week, the City’s enforcement services made 263 arrests, impounded 154 vehicles, 168 cell phones and issued 97 284 fines for various traffic and bylaw transgressions.

METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT

Officers made 103 arrests during patrols in the past week. Among those arrested were:

41 suspects on drug-related charges

23 for drunk driving

14 for contact-related crimes

12 property-related arrests

Three domestic-violence related arrests

Two firearm related arrests

Officers also issued 4 291 traffic and by-law related fines.

LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT

Officers made 89 arrests and issued 4 484 notices, including 949 for contravention of the Disaster Management regulations – particularly relating to the wearing of masks and disregarding curfew.

The arrests included 49 suspects on drug-related charges, 17 for possession of dangerous weapons, six on charges related to the possession of imitation firearms, four for the possession of unlicensed firearms, and four for illegally dealing in liquor.

Source: City Of Cape Town