After 7 people shot & killed, DA renews calls for more policing powers for CT's metro police

CAPE TOWN - On a day of fatal gun violence, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has renewed calls for more policing powers for Cape Town's metro police. 

On Wednesday, seven people were shot and killed in the city. 

Two died in a mass shooting at the Nyanga taxi rank, three were found dead in Montclair, and there were also unconfirmed reports of fatal shootings in Heideveld and Manenberg.

The DA's Ian Cameron said it did not make sense to withhold more policing powers for municipal law enforcement when it could help the SAPS.

"Why would they not allow the City of Cape Town's metro police to start investigating gang-related gun offences? For that matter, any kind of organised crime with regard to the violence we are seeing. A large amount of it is often extortion-related, taxi conflict-related, and obviously gang-related." 

He added that it was clear the SAPS was struggling to deal with rising crime.

"It is now over 10 years since the Khayelitsha Commission occured and SAPS has very little to show for real developments and success over the long term with regards to fighting the scourge of violence."

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