“We Are Not Yet in Control”: Acting Minister Speaks on Escalating Gang Violence

• Police Minister acknowledges ongoing struggle with gang violence in Western and Eastern Cape
• Criminal activities include sustained killings, overwhelming law enforcement and community safety concerns
• Residents call for peace while police increase visibility in violent hotspots across affected areas

CAPE TOWN-Police are still struggling to contain gang violence in the Western and Eastern Cape, acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia admitted during a visit to Nelson Mandela Bay on Wednesday, 21 January 2026.

According to IOL, Cachalia said law enforcement is overwhelmed by the scale and brutality of organised crime in both provinces. He warned that gangs are carrying out sustained killing sprees, particularly in the Western Cape, with similar patterns now emerging in parts of the Eastern Cape.

“We are not yet in a position to end this criminality. The challenge of organised crime in both provinces remains unresolved, and it is something we must confront head-on,” he said.

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Cachalia also questioned the effectiveness of anti-gang units, describing their deployment as inconsistent and often reactive rather than strategic. His visit comes after months of bloodshed across Nelson Mandela Bay, which includes Gqeberha, Kariega, and Despatch. The city’s northern suburbs, Gelvandale, Algoa Park, and Helenvale, saw a surge in killings late last year, with 118 people murdered between August and December, according to the Spiritual Crime Prevention group.

Firoz calls on Cape Town gangs to stop fighting

Earlier, Cachalia had called on rival gangs in Cape Town, especially on the Cape Flats, to end their violent conflicts, describing the ongoing shootings as unacceptable. He appealed to the 27th Interpol African Regional Conference in Cape Town in August last year and said he plans to return to the province to engage further with religious and community leaders. His remarks come amid growing concern over the deadly impact of gang warfare on local communities, with some residents even urging the minister to deploy the army to restore calm.

Briefly articles on gang violence in Cape Town

Three suspects have been arrested in Cape Town in connection with a series of gang‑related shootings, murders and attempted murders. The arrests were made by police Anti‑Gang Unit detectives in the Manenberg, Athlone and Mitchells Plain areas over the weekend. One of the incidents linked to the arrests involved a fatal shooting outside the Athlone Magistrates’ Court and a separate wounding in nearby Kewtown. Provincial safety officials have urged rapid and thorough prosecutions to ensure the suspects face justice and to deter further gang violence.

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Gunmen opened fire at the Nyanga taxi rank in the Cape Flats, shooting at a group of taxi passengers and owners. At least two women were killed at the scene, and eight other people were wounded and taken to the hospital for treatment. The attack has been widely condemned by government and safety officials, who urged swift police action to bring those responsible to justice. The incident adds to broader concerns about violent clashes and gun crime affecting communities in the Western Cape.

Previously, Briefly News reported that residents in Cape Town are urgently calling on rival gangs to end the ongoing violence that has left communities, including women and children, living in fear. The city has seen a surge in shootings and deaths, disrupting daily life and leaving many neighbourhoods unsafe. Community members are pleading for peace and urging gang leaders to stop their conflicts before more lives are lost. Police have increased their visibility in hotspot areas in response, but residents emphasise that lasting safety requires gangs themselves to agree to stop the bloodshed.

Source: Briefly News