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Wester Cape reports 170 murders in two weeks

Delny Demana

In just two weeks, the Western Cape reported 170 murders with over 100 survivors left injured. These numbers also reflect that more than 20 of the individuals are under 18, such as 18-year old Keisha Leigh Samuels from Mitchell’s Plain who was gunned down outside a tuck shop on 24 July. 

Photo: Keisha Leigh Samuels 

This past Saturday, there was a mass shooting along the Old Klipfontein Road in Nyanga. Four males were attacked by gunmen while changing the tyre of the Toyota Avanza they were traveling in.

These events are occurring after five months of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployment in the province to help the South African Police Service (SAPS) combat rampant crime and gangsterism. Community members and activists believe the region is facing an alarming crisis and calls for the President to declare a State of Disaster.

Photo: FACSA director Jay Jay Idel 

Executive director for Fight Against Crime SA(FACSA) Jay Jay Idel claims the deployment of SANDF has not delivered any plausible results. “FACSA is calling on Premiere Alan Winde to declare a provincial state of disaster to help unlock a co-ordinated, whole-of-government response” Idel said.

The spokesperson for the Premiere Regan Thaw, responded that despite the intolerably high levels of violent crimes in the region, a state of disaster would require national approval. “Instead, we must intensify our whole of society and whole of government approach in addressing violent crime. We will continue working with all the stakeholders to combat and prevent crime” Thaw concluded.

Photo: SANDF soldiers at Cape Town flats

The SANDF are expected to remain in the province until March 31, 2027 as part of the R823 153 960 national budget Operation Prosper, aimed at combating gangsterism, extortion and violent crimes. Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marias welcomes the SANDF’s deployment and accounts some operational success due to their presence but warns that it is not the ultimate solution. “The deployment of soldiers could never be a silver bullet to try deeply entrenched problem of gang violence in the Western Cape. (SANDF) can not replace a well-managed, properly resourced and intelligence-led police service “ Marias added.


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