ANC's Ramaphosa promises to address Delft's high crime rate
ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa visited the community on Thursday evening as part of the ANC's 113th birthday celebrations.
ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa, addressed party leaders during a visit to Robben Island in Cape Town on 8 January 2025. Picture: @MYANC/X
CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC)'s visit to the crime-ridden Delft township in Cape Town has given some residents hope that conditions will improve following party president Cyril Ramaphosa's commitment to addressing lawlessness.
Ramaphosa visited the community on Thursday evening as part of the ANC's 113th birthday celebrations.
He led a candlelight ceremony and a prayer as the community continues to struggle with violent crimes.
READ: Hundreds of Delft residents join ANC's Ramaphosa for peace walk
Ramaphosa has promised Delft residents that crime fighting resources will be put to use to address lawlessness in the township. @JusstAlpha pic.twitter.com/Yg5Erm3Q0O
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) January 9, 2025
Two years ago, the South African Police Service (SAPS) declared the township as the country's murder capital.
"We are just tired of all the killings, so we are really asking the president to do something about it."
That was the voice of a distressed mother in Delft, who said it had become all too common for parents to bury their children in the township.
She feels the police are unable to address the community's high crime rate and called on the president to deploy the military.
Ramaphosa put on his head-of-state cap and assured residents that resources for fighting crime would be put to use.
"We will also increase the number of police so that there is more police in the streets," Ramaphosa said.
Residents said that just this week, a five-year-old boy was shot and killed in the township and will be laid to rest on Friday.