Task team to tackle Cape Flats gangs

Western Cape police have announced the establishment of a “high-risk” task team to tackle gang violence on the Cape Flats.

Cape Town - The top brass of the Western Cape South African Police Service (SAPS) on Tuesday announced their plan to tackle the latest flare up of gang-related violence in affected areas of the Cape Flats.

This, said Provincial Commissioner Khombinkosi Jula, would include a “high-risk task team”. The team would be made up of SAPS specialists, those usually operating at a provincial level with a focus on gangsterism. “They will be working together with those who are working at the station,” said Jula.

These members would provide an additional resource for station commanders. Some of these “highly-skilled, highly-trained” members would be drawn from Operation Combat, the province's anti-gang unit. Jula ensured that this would not mean a disbandment of Operation Combat. Jula said an “upward” trend in fatalities in areas such as Manenberg warranted a review of their approach.

The most recent Manenberg shooting occurred an hour before Jula's briefing, although injuries or fatalities could not be confirmed. A flare-up in violence was said by police to have begun on March 31 with the non-fatal shooting of a male victim in Manenberg.

Since then, gangs in the area, namely the Hard Livings and Dixie Boys, have been engaged in running gun battles. Part of this “scourge”, said Jula, was due to turf wars.

However, additional factors such as societal issues and destruction of moral fibre were equally to blame. Jula emphasised that dealing with these issues was part of their reviewed strategy, including working with primary caregivers and religious leaders in the community.

On working with the community, Nyanga cluster commander Christopher Jones - whose cluster includes Manenberg - said the police's relationship with the community was good but could be bettered.

He said that SAPS, residents, and the community policing forum met regularly.

However, Jones urged residents to get more involved by confidentially reporting incidents to police such as where guns could be confiscated or any information related to gang activity in the area.

African News Agency

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