The Cape Town weekend murder rate has declined by 13 in the Cape Town metro region over the past weekend – from 47 murders the previous weekend to 34.
Of these, 21 were shooting deaths, six due to stabbings and seven as a result of other means.
This comes as the South African Policing Union (Sapu) is questioning deployment of SANDF in the Western Cape by saying it as never a good idea and that policing needed to be relooked in the province.
The Cape Town weekend murder rate is often looked at as a measure of gang driven violent crime in the province.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said on Monday: “We are relieved to see the number of murders declined over the weekend.
“However, this is of little comfort when 34 families are currently grieving the loss of a loved one. We must be working towards zero and nothing more.”
“This week, the Western Cape provincial cabinet will be meeting, and safety is once again high on the agenda. We will receive a report from the South African Police Service on crime and safety operations and the use of the SANDF.
“We want to understand what the police, working with the army, are doing to prevent crime and curb violence. Minister of Police Bheki Cele has to date offered nothing but cold comfort to our communities.
“Due to the poor management of SAPS, they have lost control of fight against crime.
“We are hearing community members on the ground, who were initially positive about the deployment of the army, starting to question their effectiveness, and if communities do not feel safer, then the SANDF and the police are not fulfilling their role and mandate.”
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