Cape Town’s Metro Police Neighbourhood Safety Officers (NSOs) are making their mark in the fight against crime, with several major busts over the weekend demonstrating the growing effectiveness of the City’s ward-based deployment strategy.
In a standout operation on Saturday NSOs patrolling Van Riebeeck Road, Bellville arrested a 28-year-old suspect found carrying 130 sachets of tik valued at R15 000, along with more than R1 000 in cash. The suspect was detained at Bellville Police Station.
LEAP officers remove firearms from streets
The weekend’s successes weren’t limited to drug busts. LEAP (Law Enforcement Advancement Plan) officers made significant strides in removing illegal firearms from Cape Town’s streets.
On Saturday in Kei Street, Manenberg, LEAP officers arrested a 22-year-old suspect for possession of an unlicensed firearm, recovering a 357 Magnum revolver and ammunition. The following day three suspects aged 24, 37 and 39 were arrested in Olifant Street, Manenberg, after officers seized two pistols following a shooting incident.
Weekly enforcement statistics show strong results
The weekend operations were part of a broader week of intensive law enforcement across the metro. City statistics reveal the scale of ongoing operations:
- Metro Police arrested 95 suspects, including 26 for driving under the influence
- Law Enforcement officers made 150 arrests and issued 8 448 fines
- Traffic officers arrested 20 individuals and recorded 52 570 offences
- 250 vehicles were impounded and 1 988 warrants of arrest executed
The Public Emergency Communication Centre logged 1 709 incidents in this period, including 92 assault cases, 52 domestic-violence incidents, 24 shootings and 55 motor-vehicle accidents.
Alderman JP Smith, Mayco member for Safety and Security, praised the NSO programme’s progress. “It’s encouraging to see our Metro Police Neighbourhood Safety Officers finding their feet and following in the footsteps of their more established colleagues. I also applaud the LEAP officers who confiscated three firearms in Manenberg this weekend.”
However, he emphasised the need for stronger support from the broader criminal-justice system. “Our enforcement services do good work, removing drugs and guns from our streets, but we need to see that energy matched by the criminal justice system in the prosecution and conviction of those responsible.”
Managing busy weekend events
Beyond crime fighting, the City’s Traffic Services successfully coordinated traffic management for numerous events during what Smith described as “a very busy weekend in Cape Town.”
Smith extended gratitude to both traffic officers and the public for their cooperation and patience during the challenging period.
The weekend’s operations highlight the City of Cape Town’s multi-pronged approach to public safety, combining targeted crime prevention with effective event management to keep residents safe and the metro functioning smoothly.
The NSO programme continues to expand across Cape Town’s wards, with officers working alongside established Metro Police and LEAP teams to tackle crime at the community level.
