Metro Police crackdown on illegal firearms amid domestic violence surge
Illegal drugs confiscated by City enforcement agencies in the past week.
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In a concerning trend, Metro Police officers in Cape Town have made significant strides in addressing the alarming intersection of domestic violence and illegal firearms within the city.
Two separate incidents involving domestic violence complaints recently led to the recovery of illegal arms, underscoring the critical public safety threats posed by unregulated weaponry.
On Sunday, February 23, officers responded to a domestic violence call in Lentegeur, where they uncovered a staggering cache of over 230 rounds of illegal ammunition for various calibre weapons, along with two grenade casings. Just one week later, on March 1, officers arrested a 35-year-old suspect in Heideveld for contravening the Domestic Violence Act.
During the booking process, police obtained information regarding an unlicensed firearm at the suspect's residence. Upon searching the property, they found a Glock pistol, an extended magazine, two standard magazines, 41 live rounds of ammunition, and a taser. Further investigation revealed that the Glock had been reported stolen in Port Shepstone in December.
These incidents reveal the potential dangers faced by victims of domestic violence, a reality not lost on the City’s enforcement agencies.
JP Smith, the Mayco Member for Safety and Security, said: “Our Metro Police Department responds to hundreds of domestic violence complaints every year. In this financial year alone, they’ve made 76 arrests under the Domestic Violence Act. These recent arrests highlight once again the risk that victims face. It also underscores the importance of responsive policing.”
The enforcement efforts over the past week yielded results, with a total of 431 arrests made by various City enforcement agencies.
Besides the apprehensions related to domestic violence, Metro Police officers executed 126 arrests, issued 4,705 fines, and contributed to a broader initiative that apprehended an additional 253 suspects and issued 11,517 notices.
In addition to firearms-related incidents, Metro Police also made notable drug seizures. On the same day as the arrest in Heideveld, officers discovered 910 mandrax tablets buried beneath a shack in the backyard of a property in Eindhoven, Delft. In Newfields Village, another firearm was recovered that had previously been reported as abandoned at Philippi SAPS.
The traffic enforcement unit recorded 52 arrests, predominantly for driving under the influence, as well as other driving-related offences.
They imposed 53,111 fines, impounded 171 public transport vehicles, and executed 2,280 warrants over the busy weekend. Meanwhile, the Public Emergency Communication Centre noted an influx of emergency calls, with 1,376 recorded, including 90 assault cases and 40 related to domestic violence.