Ride-along with Cape Town's Law Enforcement: Tackling gun violence in Hanover Park
A shooting victim being seen to be paramedics just before midnight.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
The Cape Flats have been plagued by gun violence over the past few weeks as bodies continue to pile up.
On Friday, I had the privilege of going on a ride-along with the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement and Metro Police in Hanover Park.
The area had been plagued by gun violence in recent weeks. In a latest incident, a nine-year-old girl was kidnapped and raped by a convicted rapist.
The convict was out on parole and living in the area.
Residents in the area have had enough of the violence and stood together, baying for the blood of the suspect who has since been arrested and appeared before the court.
As members stand in parade and are given their orders for the evening, excitement builds up as the large convoy sets out to hit the streets.
It is during this time that a word of encouragement is given, as anything can happen while on duty.
At the first address we stopped at, it was a house taken over by the Hard Livings (HL) gang. Inside the house, different fumes fill the air, including a dagga scent. There is conflict surrounding the house, and according to officers, the house and the flat behind the premises have been seized by the gang.
“The HLS defected the property from the Americans [gang],” mayoral committee member JP Smith said.
During raids in Hanover Park, suspects were searched for drugs and weapons.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Smith, who was also active during the ride-along, explained that this type of operation (raids) was a usual occurrence in an attempt to curb the violence.
While officers were conducting stop-and-searches, Smith could be seen going door-to-door, handing out flyers to residents.
The flyer urges members of the public to report crime and bylaw offences. It also explains the City of Cape Town’s reward system.
A reward of R20,000 can be collected if a tip-off leads to the arrest/s, confiscation of contraband or illegal firearms, recovery of stolen goods, rescue of a kidnapping victim etc.
Residents were eager to accept the flyers, many welcoming the convoy of Law Enforcement officers in the area.
JP Smith headed door to door to hand out flyers in Donagel Court.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Since the implementation of advanced gunshot detection technology — known as SoundThinking (formerly ShotSpotter) — in consultation with the South African Police Services (SAPS), authorities have been better equipped to respond to incidents of gun violence rapidly and effectively.
Interventions spearheaded by the Safety and Security Directorate have led to the successful confiscation of 46 firearms and over 300 rounds of ammunition since January, targeting specific hotspots such as Hanover Park, Manenberg, Nyanga, and Lavender Hill.
This innovative system allows law enforcement to hear and locate gunfire in real time, providing critical data to combat territorial disputes between rival gangs. Since January 2023, the system has recorded an eye-watering 24,795 rounds fired across the four targeted communities, marking a vital shift in the approach towards law enforcement in a city that has long been plagued by gun violence.
One of the hotspots where a large amount of gunfire rings out was also pointed out.
Law Enforcement officers confiscated a knife from a man who claimed it was his aunty’s kitchen knife.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
As the night progresses, several houses are raided and a dangerous weapon is removed from a teenage suspect who claimed it was ‘his aunt’s kitchen knife’.
A suspect, by the name of ‘Dagga’, was also apprehended after he was found in possession of heroin.
While the area was seemingly quiet due to all the police activity, as the convoy was ready to pack up for the night, just before midnight, gunshots rang out.
ShotSpotter sent out alerts, and immediately the group was notified of three people shot.
The convoy flew to the scene with hoards of residents already on the scene.
The drugs confiscated from a suspect called Dagga.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
One suspect was lying in a yard, he had been shot in the back. Another was lying in the middle of an alleyway, he had sustained a gunshot wound, and further down a woman sustained gunshot wounds to her legs.
Tensions were high as residents claimed the victims were not affiliated with any gang and stated members of the Laughing Boys gang were responsible for the bloodshed.
As blood filled the alleyway, the wait for the ambulance felt like hours; however, in volatile areas, paramedics usually need a police escort to enter the area.
A man receives treatment from paramedics after the shooting.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Once the victims were loaded into the ambulances, the convoy then headed out to Laughing Boys territory on the hunt for the shooters.
Just before 1am, officers had managed to track and trace a suspect who was taken in for questioning while the location of the others were soon to be made known.
So while gunshots continue to ring out, residents of Hanover Park continue to call for peace and justice as they yearn for normal lives without bloodshed.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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