Police presence ramped up amid spike in gang violence across Cape Flats
The City of Cape Town says there are currently major gang conflicts in both Steenberg and Lavender Hill.
South African Police Service (SAPS) officers in formation. Picture: X/SAPoliceService
CAPE TOWN - Authorities in Cape Town have had their hands full over the past few days, following an apparent spike in crime and violence.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), recent registered murder and attempted murder cases indicate a spike in shooting incidents in communities including Mitchells Plain, Bishop Lavis, Philippi, Ravensmead and Elsies River.
In response to this spike, the SAPS has bolstered deployments in identified hotspots.
Meanwhile, City of Cape Town officials have conducted an integrated crime prevention operation in the areas of Steenberg and Lavender Hill amidst ongoing violence there.
Officials say the Hillview area is particularly highly volatile, with shootings taking place almost daily mainly over drug turf and retaliation.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis joined officers in an integrated crime prevention operation earlier this week.
"We are doing searches of suspected drug houses, drone operations, vehicle checkpoints and searches in the community. We're doing everything possible to make these communities safer. We understand in the last couple of weeks, we have had a number of incidents here."
Hill-Lewis said to make Cape Town safer, the city is investing in more policing resources to help the police fight crime.