Police make progress in fight against gang related crimes

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said its crackdown on gangs and drugs in parts of the country is paying off, with more than 50,000 suspects arrested for illegal drug possession in just seven months.

In a statement released, police said intensified operations have also led to the seizure of over a thousand illegal firearms and nearly 40,000 rounds of ammunition.

Nearly a thousand officers were deployed to gang hotspots across the Western Cape, including Manenberg, Grassy Park, Tafelsig and Muizenberg.

Since April, more than 700 alleged gang members have been taken off the streets.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the results show strong progress in disrupting gang activity.

"Since 2021, we have deployed about 2,480 newly trained police officers to various units and stations across the Western Cape to bolster our fight against crime, and we will continue to prioritise and capacitate the Western Cape province," Mathe said.