Operation Punch launched to curb gang-violence in the WC

Lusanda Bill
27 January 2014

City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said in the face of the on-going gang violence the city cannot stand by and allow this to continue. 

So the city has now set-up a task force called Operation Punch to curb gang violence in the province. 

Smith said over the last few years we have been adding resources like the gang and drug unit and other elements to our strategic to make our communities and our schools safer, and that is about R28 million a year now. 

JP Smith added that more effort will be added in terms of focus operations to zoom in on the bust like we did last week with the detective who was selling bags of drugs to gangs to make sure that we are optimal effective with the disruptive policing efforts that we undertake.   

Meanwhile JP Smith said the city is bringing in more resources especially to the metro police to try and curb gang violence.  However Smith says the city cannot do investigations because it’s not in its mandate. 

Smith said the entire criminal justice system sits in the hands of national government including the investigative competency of SAPS as well as the NPA and the Department of Justice.

"So the city has no real powers in the regards to deal with the aspect that needs to be dealt with and that is the conviction rate of gang murders” Smith added.

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