Cape Town witnessed a harrowing week of gang-related violence, with a total of 22 people killed and 29 others wounded in a series of shootings and stabbings from Monday, 2 September to Sunday, 8 September 2024.
Story summary:
- 22 deaths and 29 injured in a week of gang-related violence across Cape Town.
- A surge of shootings and stabbings recorded in several areas, including Delft, Manenberg, and Lavender Hill.
- City of Cape Town’s JP Smith reveals new crime-fighting strategies in cooperation with SAPS.
Cape Town gang violence spirals out of control
Multiple neighbourhoods were affected by the violence, including Delft, Manenberg, and Lavender Hill, where communities faced the brunt of gang warfare.
The bloodshed began on Monday in Eesteriver and Rocklands, with one person shot and another fatally injured.
In Manenberg, a man was stabbed and another shot, adding to the week’s escalating toll.
By Thursday, Uitsig and Delft had witnessed six people being gunned down in separate incidents, while stabbings were reported in Valhalla Park and Mitchell’s Plain.
By the weekend, the death toll continued to rise.
In Lavender Hill and Heideveld, more residents were shot, while stabbing incidents occurred in Delft, Pinati Estate, and Wesbank.
The violence carried through into Sunday, with further shootings in Philippi and Lotus River, resulting in more casualties.
What Cape Town police are doing to curb crime in the city
In response to the alarming rise in gang violence, City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Public Safety, JP Smith, revealed efforts to strengthen cooperation between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and city authorities.
Smith highlighted a new agreement between the City and SAPS, which aims to address violent crime and gang-related activities more effectively.
Smith outlined the city’s recent agreement with SAPS, describing it as a commitment to improving collaboration in crime prevention efforts.
“We are getting married to SAPS,” Smith stated, pointing to the formalised partnership as a significant step forward.
According to Smith, the agreement focuses on crime intelligence sharing, integrated communication systems, and increased collaboration between SAPS and the city’s law enforcement teams.
“There are many opportunities outlined in the areas of cooperation within the agreement, including creating a shared safer city vision and developing integrated crime and violence prevention strategies,” said Smith.
He emphasised that stronger cooperation with SAPS would allow for better resource deployment and an improved ability to tackle gang violence head-on.
