DA alarmed by crippling detective shortage as Western Cape case backlog hits 300,000

 The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape has raised concern over what it calls a crippling detective shortage in the province, as violent crime continues to escalate.

The party says recent parliamentary replies from SAPS have revealed that nearly 300 000 active criminal cases are under investigation by 2 729 detectives.

That means each detective has an average caseload of around 107 dockets.

 A situation the party says is unsustainable.

This comes amid a surge in fatal shootings in gang-ravaged neighbourhoods in the Cape.

In a recent attack, three teenage boys were killed in Samora Machel on Saturday morning. Another child was wounded. 

The DA's Benedicta van Minnen says the detective backlog is contributing to delayed investigations, low conviction rates, and a growing culture of impunity.

"The DA has repeatedly warned that without urgent intervention by the national government, SAPS in the Western Cape will continue to fall behind violent criminals. Communities cannot be expected to live under siege while detectives lack vehicles, manpower, and basic operational support."