Western Cape Minister for Community Safety Dan Plato congratulated the SAPS on Thursday for their work in combatting gangsterism on the Cape Flats, but said more collaborative work was required.
“I applaud the good work of Operation Combat,” said Plato during an analysis of the recently released national crime statistics, also adding his reasons for backing Operation Fiela.
“Our people have had enough. They are fed up and that is the reason I was very happy with Operation Fiela.”
Plato said the crackdown was what communities mired in crime had long been calling for.
The ongoing Operation Fiela – aimed at, among others, recovering unlicensed firearms and ammunition whilst tackling related crimes – sees SAPS, the City of Cape Town’s metro police, and the SANDF join forces.
Fiela’s deployment of the military, as well as what some non-profits called a clear targetting of foreign nationals, has had its fair share of criticism.
Operation Combat is the Western Cape police’s specialised anti-gang strategy unit, which falls under deputy provincial police commissioner and head of crime detection Major-General Jeremy Vearey.
“I know there was criticism about the presence of the army but I just don’t care,” Plato said. “We must use any means to stop the killing.”
Plato said the experience of living on the Cape Flats would alter critics’ views of the military’s presence.
Despite appearing upbeat about the progress made in the fight against crime, Plato said the work was not yet over and more needed to be done to tackle gangsterism and encourage youth on the Cape Flats to stay away from a life of crime.
He said the SAPS needed to better resource precincts hardest hit by crime, but added that the province’s Ministry of Community Safety was willing to assist where possible.
“I say it, and I say it again, we are committed to taking SAPS’ hand to create safer environments.” - ANA