Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) chairperson Songezo Zibi has pressed the Minister of Police for answers on the budget, staffing, and performance of the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Anti-Gang Unit (AGU), questioning whether the resources allocated since its launch in 2018 have translated into meaningful impact—particularly in gang-plagued areas like the Western Cape.

Zibi submitted formal questions to the Minister, focusing on the AGU’s funding, personnel structure, strategic approach, and support mechanisms.

Rising Budget, Unclear Results

According to the Police Ministry’s response, the AGU has received additional funding through SAPS provincial offices over the past five financial years:

• 2019/20: R12 million

• 2020/21: R22 million

• 2021/22: R24 million

• 2022/23: R28 million

• 2023/24: R34 million

Despite the steady increases, the impact on gang-related crime remains difficult to assess.

Personnel Numbers Withheld for ‘Security Reasons’

SAPS declined to provide the total number of officers in the AGU, arguing that doing so would risk operational security. However, the Ministry did share annual percentage increases in personnel:

• 2021/22: 48.4%

• 2022/23: 13.5%

• 2023/24: 10.2%

• 2024/25: 11.9%

Staffing remains provisional, with many officers placed in the AGU through service arrangements pending permanent posts being created on the PERSAL system.

The current rank composition stands at 91.3% non-commissioned officers and 8.7% commissioned officers, all operating at provincial level. Turnover rates over the last five years have ranged from 1.8% to 6.3% annually.

Western Cape Strategy: Five Pillars, Ongoing Violence

In response to Zibi’s concerns about the Western Cape, SAPS outlined a five-pillar strategy aimed at tackling gang violence:

1. Intelligence-led operations

2. Visible policing and prevention

3. Targeted enforcement in collaboration with local and national stakeholders

4. Case-by-case investigations

5. Community engagement and awareness

Despite these pillars, the province continues to struggle with high levels of gang-related crime, raising concerns about the strategy’s real-world effectiveness.

National Expansion and Training Plans

SAPS has committed to supporting the AGU through:

• Continued recruitment of new constables

• Internal promotions and annual post advertising

• Expansion of AGU presence across all nine provinces

• Reinforcement of investigation units tackling murder, robbery, taxi violence, and forensics

A dedicated Anti-Gang Learning Programme has also been introduced, and training interventions are underway. The Organised Crime Division has been tasked with coordinating gang-related investigations, supported by Operational Command Centres at district, provincial, and national levels.

The SAPS maintains that these measures aim to boost capacity and effectiveness, but the lack of hard data and continued gang violence raise questions about whether the AGU is delivering on its core mandate.