Gangs, guns, and governance: UDM Cape Town calls for urgent stabilisation in the Western Cape
Statement by Bongani Maqungwana, UDM Councillor in the City of Cape Town
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the City of Cape Town notes with grave concern the ongoing surge of gang-related violence in Mitchells Plain, Mfuleni, and across the Cape Flats. Communities remain trapped in daily fear as shootings, extortion, and drug-related crimes devastate families and undermine social stability.
We welcome Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia’s engagement with communities, as well as his acknowledgement that gangsterism in the Western Cape is deeply tied to organised and transnational crime. However, these challenges require more than conversations; they demand urgent and decisive action.
Reports that weapons stolen from Namibian police and military stockpiles have been smuggled into Cape Town highlight the complexity of the threat. Military-grade firearms, including AK-47s, have found their way into the hands of gangs, fuelling violence and overpowering already stretched police resources. SAPS and Namibian authorities must urgently strengthen cross-border collaboration, secure state armouries, and disrupt trafficking networks.
Equally alarming are the recent shootings at the Athlone, Mitchells Plain, and Wynberg courts, where three people (including alleged gangsters) were killed in separate attacks. Such incidents have placed staff, witnesses, and the public at risk, forced lockdowns, and delayed court proceedings. These attacks further destabilise the justice system and underline the urgent need for comprehensive security measures, including increased police presence and better technological safeguards.
The UDM further notes Minister Cachalia’s statement that he has not ruled out the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to gang hotspots. While the UDM appreciates the desperation of communities calling for military support, we caution against treating the army as a first line of defence. Soldiers are not trained in civilian policing, and their use in urban communities carries serious risks. If such an option is pursued, it must be as part of a carefully coordinated, temporary stabilisation effort alongside reinforced policing and intelligence operations.
Equally concerning is the Minister’s revelation that the long-awaited Cooperation Agreement between SAPS, the Western Cape government, and the City of Cape Town, signed more than a year ago, has not yet been implemented. This agreement, which includes commitments to share intelligence, data, and resources, was designed to enhance collaboration and strengthen crime-fighting capacity in the province. Its failure to materialise is an indictment of poor coordination between spheres of government at a time when unity is most urgently required.
What is urgently needed is a comprehensive stabilisation plan:
• A fully resourced and effective anti-gang strategy by SAPS.
• Intelligence-driven operations targeting drug lords, arms smugglers, and extortion networks.
• Cross-border security collaboration to cut off the flow of high-calibre weapons.
• Increased police visibility in affected communities.
• Implementation of the Cooperation Agreement without further delay.
• Transparent communication and accountability from both national and provincial government.
• Strengthened court security to protect staff, witnesses, and the public from gang-related attacks.
The flow of illegal firearms, the unchecked rise of gangsterism, and the failure of government coordination represent a national security crisis. Communities cannot continue to live under siege. The UDM in the City of Cape Town calls on the national and provincial governments to act with urgency, precision, and accountability to restore safety, dignity, and stability to the people of the Western Cape.
