– Tougher gang oversight adopted by Parliament,
– Anti-gang policing effectiveness questioned,
– Communities demand safer streets.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the adoption by the Portfolio Committee on Police of the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Parliamentary investigation into gang violence and organised crime in the Western Cape.
Importantly, two additional provisions proposed by the DA were adopted by the Committee, strengthening the scope and relevance of the investigation.
The first recognises that gang violence and organised criminal activity are no longer confined to traditional metropolitan hotspots, but increasingly affect peri-urban, rural and smaller-town communities across the province. Areas such as Cloetesville, Worcester and other affected localities may therefore also form part of the enquiry where appropriate.
The second expands the investigation into the functioning, effectiveness, coordination and resourcing of specialised policing units tasked with combating gang violence and organised crime. This includes the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU), Tactical Response Team (TRT), Crime Intelligence structures, specialised detective units and other multidisciplinary operational components.
For too long, communities across the Western Cape have lived under the daily threat of gang violence, extortion, drug trafficking and violent crime, while questions remain around the effectiveness of specialised policing interventions and inter-agency coordination.
This investigation presents an important opportunity for Parliament to exercise meaningful oversight, identify operational shortcomings, and ensure that law enforcement structures are properly equipped and coordinated to protect vulnerable communities.
The DA looks forward to the commencement of the investigation and the oversight visits that will take place in affected communities across the Cape Flats and beyond.
Behind every crime statistic is a victim, a grieving family, and a community living in fear. Parliament’s oversight must ultimately contribute towards restoring safety, accountability and public trust in policing.