Nokubonga Ndlovu|Published
Gang violence and public safety took centre stage in Cape Town’s municipal debate, with opposition parties criticising the City’s law enforcement strategies and the governing Democratic Alliance (DA) defending its security footprint and municipal deployments.
Claims of corruption and ignored gang warfare
Fadiel Adams of the National Coloured Congress (NCC) launched an aggressive assault on current city governance, pointing to ongoing gang violence devastating working-class neighbourhoods.
Adams accused the city leadership of severe institutional failures, going so far as to argue that the current administration harbours more corruption than the ANC.
He maintained that the city has failed to adequately protect vulnerable, gang-ridden communities, leaving working-class residents to bear the brunt of severe violent crime.
Where are the tactical SWAT Teams?
During the engagement on public safety, an audience member directly challenged the DA panel regarding the deployment of specialised law enforcement resources.
The member questioned why the city has not deployed its highly publicised SWAT teams directly into gang-infested hotspots across affected communities.
The DA’s defense: devolution & SAPS support
Responding on behalf of the DA, Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews emphasised the administration's determination to ensure equal safety across every corner of Cape Town.
Andrews defended the city's approach, arguing that the primary failure lies within national policing structures:
SAPS Deficits: Andrews argued that the South African Police Service (SAPS) lacks sufficient capacity, human resources, and operational support to properly combat entrenched gang syndicates.
Local Support Mandate: Because municipal law enforcement officers lack full constitutional investigative powers, the city's specialised units are deployed to back up, augment, and support SAPS units rather than replace national policing functions.
Local Devolution Drive: The DA reiterated its ongoing policy campaign demanding the devolution of full policing powers to local government, asserting that given direct control over policing, the city could effectively curb gang violence.