Police nab 722 suspected gang members in Western Cape

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has arrested 722 suspected gang members and seized more than 1 500 illegal firearms in the Western Cape in the past seven months, as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle violent criminal networks across the province.

The arrests, made between April and October 2025, form part of intensified operations targeting gang hotspots including Mitchells Plain, Mfuleni, Delft, Bishop Lavis, Tafelsig, Muizenberg, Grassy Park, and Manenberg.

National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola said the results demonstrate the determination of law enforcement to root out gang-related crime in the province. “It is encouraging that the Western Cape police remain relentless in their pursuit to detect, dismantle and dislodge gang-related activity in hotspot areas across the province,” he said.

According to the SAPS, 980 additional officers have been deployed to identified high-risk areas in Cape Town daily, supported by 182 officers from Head Office and more than 9 000 stationed across 62 police stations in the city. The collaborative operations between SAPS, the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement units, and other agencies have yielded significant results.

During this period, 54 947 people were arrested for drug-related crimes, while 2 296 were charged with dealing in drugs. Ninety-six suspects were arrested for gang-related murders, and 60 were charged with attempted murder. Police also recovered 1 565 firearms, 39 371 rounds of ammunition, and large quantities of drugs.

General Masemola said the police have deployed 2 408 newly trained officers to various units in the Western Cape since 2021 to strengthen their capacity. “The support and collaboration of the community play a major role in ensuring that we put an end to gang violence. Through Community Policing Forums and other safety structures, the SAPS remains committed to forging solid partnerships to end ongoing killings,” he said.

Western Cape has long battled with entrenched gang violence, with areas such as Manenberg, Hanover Park, and Delft often recording some of the country’s highest murder rates. In 2024, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police urged the SAPS to intensify intelligence-led operations and improve cooperation with the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to ensure the successful prosecution of gang leaders.

Community safety activists have also called for stronger social interventions alongside policing efforts. The organisation Ceasefire South Africa said that while arrests are important, sustained change requires investment in education, rehabilitation, and community upliftment programmes to prevent young people from joining gangs.

A member of the Western Cape Community Safety Standing Committee, welcomed the arrests but said government and civil society must work together to break the cycle of violence. “Policing alone cannot solve gangsterism. We need to address the root causes that make our communities vulnerable to recruitment,” he said.

Anti-crime organisations such as the Mitchells Plain Community Policing Forum have praised the police for recent progress but cautioned that consistent visibility and follow-through on investigations remain crucial to lasting safety.

Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, SAPS national spokesperson, said operations will continue across identified hotspots as part of an ongoing national strategy to combat organised crime and restore safety in affected communities.