DA blasted over ‘militarisation’ approach to crime fighting on Cape Flats

Crime took centre stage as political parties clashed over the DA-led City of Cape Town’s crime-fighting strategy during IOL’s election debate in Cape Town on Thursday.

The ongoing debate saw opposition parties launch scathing criticism of the current administration’s approach to gang violence, the deployment of law enforcement officers and the City’s controversial Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit.

Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews defended the DA’s record, arguing that the City faced significant limitations because it did not have the same investigative powers as the South African Police Service (SAPS).

“There is a disincentive for gangsters to stop their criminality. We have seen over the past five years that SAPS have reduced their deployment of officers by just over 13 000.

“There is a human resource deficit, and what we’ve done over the past term is to deploy the same amount of officers, just over 1 300,” Andrews said.

DA defends policing powers and officer deployment

He argued that the City’s law enforcement officers could not conduct their own criminal investigations and had to hand suspects over to SAPS.

“What we can’t do is our own investigations. Suspects have to be handed over to SAPS and rely on the courts for a successful prosecution. But that does not happen,” he said.

However, the DA’s approach came under fire from opposition parties, who questioned whether the City’s resources were being deployed fairly and whether its crime-fighting strategy was addressing the root causes of violence.

National Coloured Congress (NCC) leader Fadiel Adams criticised the deployment of officers and the City’s push for greater investigative powers.

“Sixteen officers are deployed into white areas, and only four in the Coloured areas. They want investigating powers to hide their own crap,” Adams said.

GOOD mayoral candidate Brett Herron also criticised the City’s SWAT unit, arguing that its deployment of heavily equipped officers and military-style vehicles on the Cape Flats amounted to the militarisation of communities.

“Throwing these toys and military vehicles at the Cape Flats is the militarisation of communities,” Herron said.

“The City is not tackling the root causes of the crime issues, but is trying to manage it through these excessive militarised vehicles.”

SWAT unit criticised as ‘militarisation’ of communities

Al Jama-ah mayoral candidate Shameemah Dollie also questioned the legality and jurisdiction of the City’s crime-fighting initiatives.

Dollie argued that the SWAT unit needed to operate within the limits of the City’s legal authority and accused the administration of attempting to take over responsibilities that belonged to SAPS.

“The unit will need to operate within the jurisdiction of the metro. You are trying to replace SAPS with your drones and toys. You have no jurisdiction,” she said.

The debate continues, with crime and public safety emerging as major points of contention between the DA-led administration and opposition parties ahead of the upcoming local government elections.