SOUTH AFRICA ADMITS SECURITY FORCES STRUGGLE TO DEFEAT GANG VIOLENCE.

SOUTH AFRICA ADMITS SECURITY FORCES STRUGGLE TO DEFEAT GANG VIOLENCE.

South Africa’s police minister Firoz Cachalia has admitted that the country’s security forces are currently not in a position to defeat deadly criminal gangs, underscoring the severity of the nation’s crime challenge. Gang-related violence, together with armed robberies and other serious offences, continues to account for a significant proportion of murders in a country that ranks among those with the highest homicide rates globally.

Cachalia says criminal gang activity has grown increasingly sophisticated, particularly in the eastern cape and western cape provinces, where organised groups have established deep roots within communities. He notes that the evolving nature of gang operations, including the use of heavy firearms and complex networks, demands approaches that extend beyond conventional policing.

Speaking to journalists, the police minister acknowledged that, at present, the state lacks the full capacity and resources required to completely defeat gangs operating in these affected areas. He stressed the need for multi-sectoral interventions involving law enforcement, the justice system and social development programmes to address the root causes of crime.

South Africa has for decades grappled with entrenched organised crime, fuelled by poverty, unemployment and the widespread availability of illegal firearms. This is despite the fact that many south Africans legally own licensed guns for self-protection. The proliferation of illegal weapons continues to pose a major challenge to law enforcement efforts.

Official police statistics illustrate the scale of the crisis, showing that an average of 63 people were killed each day between April and September last year. Authorities say these figures highlight the urgent need for stronger, coordinated strategies to restore public safety and reduce violent crime across the country.