Police crack down on Gangs across Western Cape

The South African Police Service has intensified its efforts to clamp down on gang-related crime in the Western Cape, arresting 26 suspects and seizing illegal firearms, ammunition, and drugs during a three-day operation. The arrests were made in areas including Manenberg, Elsies River, Kensington, Wynberg, Lentegeur, and Delft under Operation Lockdown III.
SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the operation forms part of a national intervention aimed at combating gangsterism, drug trafficking, extortion, and violent crimes across the Cape Flats. “Among those arrested is a wanted escapee who had fled from lawful custody last month. He was initially arrested for a gang-related murder,” she said. The suspect was tracked down and re-arrested in Lentegeur after police followed up on intelligence.
During the same period, police recovered four unlicensed firearms, several rounds of ammunition, spent cartridges, a hijacked vehicle, drugs, a card machine, state-owned petrol cards, and cash believed to be proceeds of crime. Investigations are continuing to determine whether the firearms and suspects are linked to other serious crimes.
The Western Cape continues to be one of the hardest-hit provinces by gang violence. In many parts of the Cape Flats, shootings occur almost daily as rival gangs fight for control of drug territories and extortion rackets. Victims of gang violence often include innocent bystanders and school children caught in crossfire. Police data and community reports indicate that dozens of people lose their lives each month in gang-related incidents, leaving families and communities living in fear.
Police said Operation Lockdown III is a coordinated effort by several specialised units including the National Intervention Unit, Anti-Gang Unit, Tactical Response Team, Public Order Policing, Visible Policing, Crime Intelligence, Forensic experts, and the K9 Unit. The team focuses on targeted operations in gang-infested areas, tracing wanted suspects, and removing illegal weapons from circulation.
Van Wyk said the multi-disciplinary operation will continue as police work to restore peace in affected areas. “The South African Police Service remains committed to dealing decisively with those involved in gang-related crimes and ensuring that communities feel safe,” she said.
The police have urged residents to report any suspicious activity or information about illegal firearms and drug dealings. Authorities believe that stronger community cooperation, combined with visible policing and intelligence-driven operations, will help reduce the violence that continues to claim lives across the Western Cape.