Parliament's portfolio committee on police plans to hold a special meeting on the SAPS's anti-gang strategy next month, the committee said on Wednesday.
"It is critical that endemic violent crime in communities should be dealt with (using) a comprehensive strategy – hence the meeting," said committee chairperson Francois Beukman, News24 reported.
The meeting is set for November 21 and will also look at the state of community policing in high-crime areas affected by gun violence.
It comes in the wake of recent protests on the Cape Flats and Westbury in Johannesburg, whose residents were protesting against gang violence and related crimes that have plagued their communities for years, with calls for an increase in police numbers and visibility.
Beukman said the announcement by Police Minister Bheki Cele of the re-establishment of a specialised anti-gang unit within the SAPS was significant and in line with the recommendations of the National Development Plan.
"The committee will utilise the meeting to get assurances from national police management that a sustainable strategy and operational plan is in place to deal with priority and contact crime in the affected areas," Beukman emphasised.
The specialised unit of the Hawks dealing with illegal firearms will also be invited to the briefing to give feedback on its efforts, he added.