WC opposition parties demand more police resources to quash gang violence

Opposition parties in the Western Cape urged the national government to deploy more police resources to tackle gang violence and crime in the province.

Statistics showed there were 78 murders in the province in just one week.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has since called on Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia to urgently prioritise deploying additional detectives to the province.

"Communities cannot be expected to live under siege while detectives lack vehicles, manpower, and basic operational support," the party said.

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Good Party Secretary-General Brett Herron highlighted the government's failure to implement a policing cooperation agreement signed between the three spheres of government in August 2024.

"Eighteen months later, those promises of 'joint planning' and 'coordinated action' have failed to translate into safety on the ground. Instead of a safer city, violent crime continues to surge, particularly in poorer communities where gangsters operate with near impunity," Herron said.

Cachalia's office indicated that the minister would respond to the opposition parties' concerns later this week.