South Africa's Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has stated that the security forces are not yet capable of defeating the deadly criminal gangs plaguing the nation. This candid admission highlights the severity of the country's crime crisis, where gang violence, along with robberies, significantly contributes to the high homicide rates recorded.
According to Cachalia, the complexities of gang violence, particularly in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, necessitate novel approaches beyond traditional policing methods. I do not believe that we are currently in a position to defeat these gangs, he remarked during a press briefing.
South Africa continues to grapple with entrenched organized crime, with an alarming average of 63 homicides occurring each day between April and September last year. Citizens often resort to owning licensed firearms for protection, yet the number of illegal weapons in circulation remains significantly higher.
During his visit to the crime-ridden Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape, Cachalia reaffirmed the escalating nature of gang violence, labeling it a grave issue affecting the entire country. Despite the establishment of an anti-gang unit in 2019, he expressed concerns that gangsters appear to be gaining the upper hand.
His comments come in the wake of a violent spike in the region, where local reports indicated that 118 people were killed between August and December last year. The disturbing trend of violence has shown no signs of abating, with about 40 lives lost across the area in January alone.
Various incidents of mass shootings linked to turf wars have further exacerbated fears about public safety, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to vow enhanced law enforcement measures and increased police presence to combat gang-related violence effectively.
