The DA recognizes that an out-of-control crime crisis is being perpetuated by a failing national police service. The effects of this are devastating on the Western Cape in particular, where our hearts are broken daily by murders, gun crime, gang crime and organized crime.
Today the Western Cape Parliament debated a DA-sponsored Motion on ways to tackle and confront the crime crisis, and as a party that cares deeply about the safety of residents, the DA contributions to this debate show the way forward to address it.
The DA speakers presented solutions, and made implementable demands upon the national police service. The DA expects that these will be taken seriously by the SAPS.
DA demands made during the Western Cape debate on gangsterism and child killings, include:
- We demand a national anti-gang intelligence task team, using financial tracing and SARS data to dismantle criminal networks.
- We demand a full review of the criminal-justice system, focused on conviction rates, backlogs, and capacity.
- We demand that national government must devolve policing power to the Western Cape Province.
- We demand that the NPA prosecutes gun crime, and prosecutes the politicians who are complicit with national gangsterism.
- We demand that SAPS remove illegal guns and ammunition from our streets. Every illegal firearm confiscated represents a potential life saved.
In the face of ongoing failures by the SAPS, the DA-led Western Cape Government, and the City of Cape Town metro government is doing everything possible to plug the gap.
In today’s debate the DA recognises the progress of the Western Cape government, including:
- The deployment of more than 1,200 additional LEAP officers to areas experiencing highest levels of violent crime and murder. This is the DA-led government plugging the gaps.
- Crime pattern analysis being used, under “The Hotspot Policing Project” to send resources to specific areas that need them.
- “Safe zones and safe corridors” to provide secure access to services, education, and employment opportunities.
All communities plagued by crime deserve better policing, and the DA is fighting for this in every way we can.