'GIVE US DA POWER'

THE City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Portfolio Committee has adopted a motion calling for the transfer of targeted policing powers from the national government.

The motion will be tabled at the next full Council meeting for formal adoption.

The document presented by the committee states: “If the formal process through the Intergovernmental Relations Framework fails to achieve outcomes, that the City Manager proceeds to begin an adjudication process through the courts to devolve policing powers, thereby empowering the City of Cape Town with investigating powers to assist the SAPS adequately in addressing the scourge of gun violence.”

This comes amid ongoing concerns over gang violence, extortion, and the effectiveness of policing in the metro.

The motion was presented by Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Yusuf Mohamed and seconded by United Democratic Movement (UDM) councillor Bongani Maqungwana.

It calls for a formal request to the national government to empower City law enforcement to investigative gang-related crimes, drug trafficking, extortion, firearm offences, forensic testing of firearms and access to crime intelligence.

Mohamed said: “We’re not calling for full policing powers, but for targeted, urgent powers that enable the City to fill the gap left by SAPS.

Councillor Mzwakhe Nqavashe, Chairperson of the committee, said communities are struggling under the weight of violent crime and lawlessness.

The City has, in recent years, expanded its investment in crime prevention through the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP), the establishment of the Metro Police Gang and Drug Task Team, and increased use of surveillance technologies.

Nqavashe added: “We can contribute in tackling crime in our city and in giving an answer to the victims... especially on firearms, which are circulating at an alarming rate.”

The motion also recommends that national government formalise the work of the technical task team created under the 2024 Safety and Security Cooperation Agreement, which was signed at Erica Park in Belhar by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister Senzo Mchunu, and Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith said the City do not receive real-time crime intelligence from SAPS, which effects the success of its operations.

He said: “We only see crime stats months later – it’s a history lesson, not a tool.”

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and The GOOD Party opposed the motion.

EFF councillor Banzi Dambuza said: “We are against the devolution of policing powers to the City. The DA has proven that they are not able to deal with issues of crime. They are utilising this as a bargaining chip.”

"The City came with a budget that will give six law enforcement personnel per ward, whereas they know that the major issue is within black and coloured areas.

“The DA has failed to deal with gangsterism, extortion, and any other issue related to crime.”

GOOD Party councillor Jonathan Cupido added: “To suggest that devolving select policing functions will resolve Cape Town’s crisis of violent crime, without simultaneously addressing the root causes of that violence, is dangerously misleading.”