CAPE TOWN – Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais has thrown her support behind the City of Cape Town’s push to give metro police officers expanded powers to investigate crimes, citing the province’s worsening violent crime crisis.
The minister said law enforcement agencies are struggling to convert arrests into successful prosecutions despite removing large numbers of illegal firearms from the streets. She believes metro police officers with proper training could help ease the burden on overworked South African Police Service detectives.
“Cape Town continues to face enormous challenges from organised crime, gang violence and unacceptably high murder rates,” Marais said. “While law enforcement agencies are removing significant numbers of illegal firearms from our streets, the low conviction rate remains deeply concerning.”
Crime-weary communities want results
The minister praised residents who have become partners in fighting crime by providing information that leads to firearm recoveries and arrests. However, she said these community members deserve to see criminals successfully prosecuted and jailed.
“Residents are doing their part. They deserve to see those responsible for terrorising their communities successfully prosecuted,” Marais said.
She acknowledged that SAPS detectives work under extremely difficult circumstances, with excessive caseloads limiting the time available for thorough investigations.
Metro police ready to help
According to Marais, the Cape Town Metro Police has indicated it has trained officers ready and willing to assist with investigations. She said now is not the time for law enforcement agencies to become territorial over mandates when communities are suffering.
“This is not a criticism of SAPS, but a recognition that they need additional support,” the minister said. “There is simply too much work to be done for law enforcement agencies to become territorial over mandates when communities are paying the price.”
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Call for urgent action
Marais has called on Acting Minister of Police Professor Firoz Cachalia to prioritise the City’s request and urgently explore ways to expand investigative powers to properly trained metro police units.
She emphasised the move is not about replacing SAPS but strengthening the collective ability to investigate violent crimes, secure more convictions and restore public confidence in the criminal justice system.
“Communities traumatised by ongoing murders deserve every possible intervention,” Marais said. “Every additional conviction means one less violent criminal on our streets and one more community with hope that justice can prevail.”
