most of the 1000 arrested were released within 72 hours

Army was deployed to assist SAPS and Metro Police and other law enforcement's agencies to help stabilize high levels of gang-related crime in our communities. With patrols lasting no longer than three hours a time, murder rates remains high.

A week ago Police Minister Bheki Cele said more than 1000 suspects have been arrested since the army was deployed. 1004 suspects were arrested, 804 wanted suspects were traced and arrested, 45 firearms were confiscated along with 1036 rounds of ammunition and drugs and substance confiscated. Because firearms were confiscated knives became the weapon of choice.

This weekend, Western Cape Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz, uncovered that most of the 1000 suspects arrested in the Cape Flats were released within 72 hours. He added that its nearly  five weeks since the army was brought in to assist the police, Cape Flats residents were beginning to question the impact of the deployment in their communities.

Albert Fritz was informed that those arrested were released within 72 hours due to detective services failure to link the arrests to crimes or complete the investigations. He added the Western Cape government has said countless times that the deployment of the army will not defeat crime in the province.

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