Over the past week, Cape Town has seen a troubling increase in violent crime, with 22 shootings reported and priority policing calls nearly doubling.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Media
Over the past weekend, Cape Town’s emergency services reported a worrying rise in violent crime, with 22 shooting incidents recorded and priority policing calls nearly doubling compared with the previous week.
The City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre, which is the first point of contact for emergency and enforcement-related incidents, dispatched assistance to a total of 1 464 calls during the weekend.
Priority policing incidents, covering armed robbery, housebreaking, metal theft, smash-and-grabs, and shootings, jumped from 34 to 61.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said the reported figures likely underestimate the true scale of the problem.
“These are reported incidents, so the actual number is likely far higher," Smith said.
Our enforcement services also recovered several firearms again this past week, which begs the now all too regular question of supply lines and what’s being done by national government to dismantle them.”
He added that while the upcoming army deployment to crime hotspots is a welcome short-term measure, long-term solutions depend on stronger investigations and prosecutions.
The City reported 448 medical emergencies, including 89 assault cases, and 171 traffic-related incidents, including 39 motor vehicle accidents and a dozen pedestrian accidents. Law enforcement also responded to 414 by-law complaints over the week.
Enforcement operations led to 423 arrests and nearly 86,000 fines. Metro Police made 167 arrests, including 57 for drunk driving, while Traffic Officers recorded 69,233 traffic violations, impounded 208 public transport vehicles, and executed 656 warrants of arrest.
The City highlighted several firearm-related arrests, including a 29-year-old found with a 9mm pistol and 23 rounds of ammunition in Hanover Park on 25 March, and a 23-year-old arrested for illegal possession of a revolver on 27 March.
Officers also recovered a blank firearm following a shots-fired call in Hanover Park on 28 March.
Smith said the spike in shootings and violent crime underscores the urgent need to disrupt illegal firearms supply and strengthen enforcement capacity.
Residents are urged to report life-threatening emergencies immediately to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre at 021 480 770.
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