BUT CALLS GROW FOR GREATER MUNICIPAL POWERS
CCN Reporting
CAPE TOWN: – The relentless efforts of the City’s Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers, working in tandem with SAPS, continue to deliver results in gang-plagued Hanover Park.
– In recent operations, LEAP officers made significant breakthroughs, including,
- The seizure of 34 Mandrax tablets
- The confiscation of a firearm and five rounds of ammunition
While these arrests are commendable, authorities on the ground acknowledge that this is “only the tip of the iceberg” in a community deeply scarred by organised crime and gang violence.
Local municipal enforcement teams are growing increasingly frustrated by the limitations placed on their powers. Despite being on the frontline, their hands remain tied when it comes to conducting in-depth investigations and tackling the broader criminal networks behind the scenes.
- A spokesperson for the municipal safety department said-
“We urgently call on the National Police Commissioner to delegate investigative authority to our municipal structures. It is constitutionally permissible – we simply need the go-ahead.”
The renewed plea comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced a Commission of Enquiry into the SAPS, following widespread concerns over police inefficiency and alleged corruption.
“This is the perfect opportunity for SAPS to demonstrate transparency and real accountability,” the spokesperson added. “Our communities are crying out for justice. We are ready to help – all we need is the political will to unleash our full capacity.”
With community trust in SAPS continuing to erode, there is mounting pressure on the national leadership to act decisively and enable more localised policing solutions.