GOOD Party says redeployment of military in WC is only a temporary crime-suppression measure

The GOOD Party in the Western Cape said the redeployment of the military is only a temporary crime-suppression measure.

This comes after new crime statistics showed the province’s murder rate dropped by 3.4%.

Despite the decline, the Western Cape still has 10 of the country’s top 30 murder stations and accounts for 257 of the 276 gang-related murders.

GOOD’s Brett Herron said previous South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployments have not brought lasting peace to crime-ridden communities in Cape Town.

"If military deployments could solve violent crime, there would be no need to redeploy them, given all the previous deployments."

Meanwhile, the city’s JP Smith has added his voice to the growing concerns over last year’s third-quarter crime statistics.

He said the City of Cape Town may have to take legal action if policing powers are not increased in the city.

"We're encouraged that murders in the province have decreased by 3.4%. Every life saved is significant, but this percentage isn’t enough. If we had additional policing powers, we could do more."