More than 1 000 suspects arrested by LEAP officers in July

The Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers arrested 1 098 suspects in July, for various crimes. This is 104 more arrests made in June.

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LEAP officers work alongside other law enforcement agencies, such as City of Cape Town, Metro Police and SAPS. Officers are deployed in crime hotspot areas in the metro, including, Delft, Gugulethu, Harare, Khayelitsha (Site B policing precinct), Kraaifontein, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga, Philippi East, and Samora Machel. Other high crime areas in which they are deployed are Atlantis, Bishop Lavis and Hanover Park, along with Lavender Hill, Steenberg and Grassy Park.

Officers also confiscated 30 firearms in the metro

Furthermore, 677 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, 62 for the possession of dangerous weapons, 34 for the possession of illegal firearms, 32 for the possession of imitation firearms, and 22 for dealing in drugs.

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Western Cape’s Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, Reagen Allen, welcomed the arrests, and thanked LEAP officers for the ‘sterling’ work they are doing.

“I commend our LEAP officers for the continued commitment they are showing in the various communities where they are deployed. The last two weeks have been extremely difficult with the murders of LEAP officers Zanikhaya Kwinana and Toufeeq Williams. I welcome the arrest of a suspect in the murder of Officer Williams, while assuring the family, loved ones and colleagues of Officer Kwinana that we will leave no stone unturned to find those responsible. LEAP officers work in difficult circumstances, where there are various community complexities. They, along with all those who are working with them have our gratitude.’’

“As the Western Cape Government, we will continue to support our LEAP officers, as through their interventions with various stakeholders, they are ensuring that we work towards our goal which is to decrease the murder rate by 50% by 2029. Cooperation from every sector in society will go a long way in helping us to achieve this goal and in creating safer communities,” added Reagen Allen, Western Cape’s Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC.

 

Done By: Esona Mfazwe