Gang activity has been increasing in South Africa in recent years, especially in urban areas with high levels of poverty and unemployment. These criminal organizations engage in a variety of illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, robbery, and murder, causing fear and insecurity among the population.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has implemented targeted operations to combat criminal activities in the country. One key strategy the SAPS employs is deploying officers to hotspot areas to detect and prevent illegal activities. This approach has successfully recovered firearms and apprehended criminals in various parts of the country.
Recent efforts to address the root causes of crime in the Western Cape have arrested several suspects for illegal firearm possession. The arrests were made following a shooting in Manenberg, where a 13yearold boy was injured. As a result, antigang unit members increased their efforts and apprehended a 34yearold woman attempting to dispose of a CZ pistol with a fully loaded magazine containing 15 rounds. The illegal firearm and ammunition led to the possibility that it was linked to the shooting of the 13yearold, and the matter is currently under investigation.