South African Police Not Yet Able To Defeat Gangs

South Africa’s Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has said that the security forces are not yet able to defeat deadly criminal gangs, in a stark admission that underscores the scale of the country’s crime crisis.

Gang violence, alongside robberies, accounts for many murders in South Africa, which has one of the world’s highest homicide rates.

Cachalia said gang violence had become increasingly complex, especially in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces, requiring new strategies beyond traditional policing.

“I do not believe that we are currently in a position to defeat these gangs,” the minister told journalists on Wednesday.

South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised nation, has long struggled with entrenched organised crime.

Many people in South Africa own licensed firearms for personal protection, but there are many more illegal guns in circulation.

Police data shows that an average of 63 people were killed each day between April and September last year.

South African police not yet able to defeat gangs, minister says
4 hours ago
Wycliffe Muia

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Gallo Images via Getty Images) Two uniformed police officers, including one from the Anti-Gang Unit, stand with their backs to the camera Gallo Images via Getty Images)
A lack of resources is hampering anti-gang operations, says Police Minister Firoz Cachalia
South Africa’s Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has said that the security forces are not yet able to defeat deadly criminal gangs, in a stark admission that underscores the scale of the country’s crime crisis.

Gang violence, alongside robberies, accounts for many murders in South Africa, which has one of the world’s highest homicide rates.

Cachalia said gang violence had become increasingly complex, especially in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces, requiring new strategies beyond traditional policing.

“I do not believe that we are currently in a position to defeat these gangs,” the minister told journalists on Wednesday.

South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised nation, has long struggled with entrenched organised crime.

Many people in South Africa own licensed firearms for personal protection, but there are many more illegal guns in circulation.

Police data shows that an average of 63 people were killed each day between April and September last year.

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Speaking after his visit to crime-infested Nelson Mandela Bay in Eastern Cape, Cachalia said criminal gangs were on a “killing spree” in the two provinces.

“We had a discussion about the problem of organised crime in the Eastern Cape, including extortion rackets, gang violence and related issues,” said the minister.

“I indicated that this is a grave problem throughout the country, that these cartels wield significant wealth and power, and that this is deeply concerning,” he added.

Despite the creation of an anti-gang unit in 2019, Cachalia said gangsters seemed to be winning the war.

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