Deputy President Paul Mashatile announced that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has created the National Anti-Gang Strategy, which aims to dismantle gang-related criminal networks through intelligence gathering, proactive policing, community engagement, and collaboration with stakeholders.
“Under the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, several measures have been introduced to restore the integrity and performance of SAPS Crime Intelligence,” the Deputy President said on Thursday 30 October.
In response to oral questions during a session in the National Assembly, Deputy President Mashatile stated that the SAPS will expand the scope of the Anti-Gang Units.
He announced that this expansion will include gang-related issues such as drug trafficking, shootings, and murders, extending beyond the Western Cape to include the Eastern Cape and Gauteng.
“The units will also be supported by operations like Operation Shanela and Operation Vala Umgodi,” he added.
The Deputy President was responding to a question from the Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament (MP) regarding the ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The MP asked what measures should be taken to strengthen the overall criminal justice system, particularly the police service.
The country’s second-in-command stated that the government will continue to strengthen the Crime Intelligence Division to combat organised crime, gangsterism, and violent criminality in hotspot areas through structural and technological interventions, including Community Policing Forums (CPFs).
Deputy President Mashatile also spoke about the Acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia’s announcement to install a multi-agency anti-gang plan in the Western Cape.
This plan involves collaboration between the National Prosecuting Authority, the Asset Forfeiture Unit, the Special Investigating Unit, and SAPS to combat gangsterism and extortion.
“This plan has already been finalised with funding allocated for implementation.”
In the meantime, he stated that the SAPS has enhanced its digital analytics, surveillance, and data-driven policing resources.
This initiative aims to enhance intelligence-led operations in high-crime areas.
In addition, the SAPS is collaborating with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to devise strategies that target the financial infrastructure of organised crime, focusing on cross-border business networks.
On Sunday 2 November, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, said the Western Cape police remain relentless in their pursuit to detect, dismantle and dislodge gang-related activity in hotspot areas across the province.
With additional police officers deployed to the City of Cape Town, officers on the ground working with other law enforcement agencies and key stakeholders have made encouraging inroads to disrupt organised gang-related activity.
“From 01 April to date, more than 980 officers are deployed to various hotspots for gang activities on a daily basis, this is inclusive of 800 police officers from both the SAPS and the City of Cape Town and an additional 182 from head office.
“This is over and above the more than 9 000 officers who serve at 62 police stations within the City of Cape Town policing precinct,” Masemola said.
He said the collaboration has ultimately resulted in a number of successes including the arrest of 722 gangsters from various hotspot areas like Mitchell’s Plain, Mfuleni, Delft, Bishop Lavis, Tafelsig, Muizenberg, GrassyPark and Manenberg, among others.
“The largest number of arrests during this period were for those who were found to be in possession of drugs. It is encouraging to note that a staggering 54 947 suspects were arrested for this crime,” he said.
The following notable arrests and confiscations were made from 01 April 2025 to date:
Dealing in drugs: 2 296
Gang related murders: 96
Gang related attempted murders: 60
Firearms seized: 1 565
Rounds of ammunition: 39 371
“We have since 2021 deployed 2 408 newly trained officers to various units and stations across the Western Cape to bolster our fight against crime and we will continue to prioritize and capacitate the Western Cape province.
“The support and collaboration of the community play a major role in ensuring that we put an end to gang violence. Through Community Policing Forums (CPF) and other safety and security structures, the SAPS remains committed to forging solid partnerships to end ongoing killings,” General Masemola said.
