'Mr. President, our children are dying, being murdered! We need urgent intervention'
The Western Cape has been shaken by a staggering 490 gang-related murders in just six months, an average of 83 deaths per month, Police Minister Firoz Cachalia revealed during a National Assembly mini-plenary titled
“The scourge of gun violence and the killing of innocent children and adults in the Cape Flats communities.”
The statistics are grim: 23 children under 18 were killed, and almost 120 minors were shot, reflecting the devastating human toll of gang violence.
“During this year, we have seen gang violence in the Western Cape reaching alarming levels. People are being shot and killed or seriously injured on a daily basis,” Cachalia said.
Crime experts warn communities are teetering on the edge of hopelessness.
Chad Thomas, forensic investigator and crime expert, said, “It’s unimaginable that people have to live in constant fear for their safety and the safety of their loved ones. It is important that there is a coordinated response to this by national, provincial and local law enforcement, with the support and buy-in from local communities.”
Thomas explained that gangsterism is essentially organised crime fighting over turf to control illicit markets, such as drugs, and expand protection rackets through extortion. He highlighted the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) as a crucial tool:
“POCA must be used to break the back of top-tier gang leadership by going after their assets derived through illicit activities.
“Harsh sentences must be meted out to those affiliated with organised crime syndicates. Membership of gangs should be outlawed, and all gang members should be charged under the doctrine of common purpose, all gang members get tried for murder, not just the shooter or the person ordering the hit.”
Forensic criminologist Thabang Bogoba described the deeper societal challenges. “There are communities living in hopelessness, particularly those publicly known to have gangsters operating full-time. Look at the Cape Flats, Sunnyside in Pretoria, and certain areas in Durban, criminality is known publicly and, alarmingly, deemed acceptable in those communities. People no longer even try to report crimes to law enforcement.”
Bogoba also noted the limitations of POCA enforcement:
“The Prevention of Organised Crime Act criminalises participation in gangsterism and forming a gang. However, it is difficult to enforce because POCA falls mainly under the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), or the Hawks, at provincial and national levels.
“Local police stations have little mandate to act, leaving a loophole. Serious organised crime can occur literally in municipal offices sharing buildings with police stations, yet local officers cannot intervene.”
Corruption further undermines efforts to combat gangs. “Certain criminals have gained dominance over law enforcement, some even through state tendering, capturing commanders. Juniors lose the appetite to act, and crime flourishes,” Bogoba said.
He also highlighted the generational problem of youth involvement in gangs.
“Young men in crime-ridden areas often have multiple arrests by the time they are teenagers. They are pure criminals before age 13, making restorative justice nearly impossible. In some communities, it is a shame not to have been arrested or committed a murder by age 15, particularly in Western Cape gang areas.”
Thomas and Bogoba agree that intelligence-driven policing and community trust are critical. “Without effective crime intelligence, we are fighting blind and reactively. With it, we know who to neutralise,” Thomas said.
Community and crime activist Veranique “Benji” Williams called out the President.
“Please can you come to the ground, come and see what is happening, listen to our people’s, your people’s stories. Our children needs urgent action.
“Our constitution needs to be changed, our justice system needs to be upgraded. Our children are dying Mr. President, they are being murdered. We need some sort of intervention, urgent intervention from the Head of State!
“For how long must we cry for your help? How can you say you are the father of this nation, but the children are suffering, make the call Mr. President!”
The Weekend Argus reached out to the Presidency for comment but by deadline did not receive any response.
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za