Cape Town Mayor Demands Action on Gangs and Rail Reforms in Upcoming SONA

In a fierce address, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has called upon South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to prioritize tackling the rampant issue of illegal firearms and to expedite the devolution of passenger rail operations. As South Africans anticipate the State of the Nation Address (SONA), the Mayor's demands underscore the urgency of disrupting the cycle of violence and inefficiency plaguing Cape Town.

The escalating crisis of illegal firearms within the city is a significant catalyst for the pervasive gang and drug activities, with Mayor Hill-Lewis highlighting the disturbing trend of police weapons being funneled to criminals. Citing the theft of guns from Mitchells Plain police station as just the tip of the iceberg, he underscores the immediate need for measures to curb the illegal gun trade—a trade that tragically results in the loss of innocent lives caught in gang crossfires.

Mayor Hill-Lewis's call to action is not without precedent; Cape Town's municipal law enforcement has intensified efforts, resulting in 447 illegal firearm seizures over the past two fiscal years and a 35% increase in firearm-related arrests in 22/23. City operations have also witnessed a surge in drug arrests, doubling from 4,000 in 21/22 to over 8,000 in 22/23, seizing approximately 124,000 drug units.

However, these efforts are stifled by systemic corruption and inefficiencies within the South African Police Service (SAPS), with Mayor Hill-Lewis deploring the manner in which confiscated firearms eventually circulate back to gangs. He also points to the failure of the criminal justice system to secure convictions, with gang crime conviction rates in the single digits.

Mayor Hill-Lewis is beseeching President Ramaphosa to grant municipal law enforcement officers more policing powers, emphasizing their readiness to support SAPS and stressing that additional peace officer powers could substantially bolster crime-fighting efforts.

The woes of public transportation further exacerbate the city's struggles. The Mayor cited President Ramaphosa's earlier promise to release the national Rail Devolution Strategy by the end of 2023, lamenting over the lack of progress and ongoing delays. He outlined the critical need for functional public rail systems, which can offer substantial economic benefits for Capetonians, particularly for lower-income families, saving them R932 million annually. According to the city's rail feasibility study, such improvements could sustain over 51,000 jobs and contribute R11 billion to the local economy each year.

The Mayor's plea for a clear deadline on the Rail Devolution Strategy reiterates the city's readiness to collaborate with the national government, pushing for a joint working committee to expedite the devolution process for the advantage of commuters and the economic vitality of Cape Town.

As the nation awaits the President's response in the upcoming SONA, there is a palpable demand for decisive leadership and concrete solutions to these critical issues.