LEAP officers arrest more than 1 000 suspects during July 2023

The Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers once again made their presence felt by arresting 1 098 individuals between 3 and 30 July 2023, while also confiscating 30 firearms from across the metro. LEAP, which stems from the Western Cape Safety Plan (WCSP) is an initiative of the Western Cape Government (WCG) in partnership with the City of Cape Town (CoCT).

The firearms confiscated are:

• 1x Revolver in Kraaifontein;
• 1x Zip Gun and 4x Pistols in Mitchells Plain;
• 1x Pistol in Lentegeur;
• 4x Pistol and 1x Homemade Shotgun in Bishop Lavis;
• 1x Revolver in Gugulethu;
• 5x Pistols in Philippi;
• 4x Pistols in Samora Machel;
• 1x Pistol in Nyanga;
• 1x Zip gun and 1x Pistol in Atlantis;
• 1x Pistol in Philippi East;
• 2x Pistols in Delft and
• 2x Pistols in Mfuleni

Amongst others, the arrests included:

• 34 for the possession of illegal firearms,
• 32 for the possession of imitation firearms,
• 62 for the possession of dangerous weapons,
• 677 for the possession of drugs and
• 22 for dealing in drugs.

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Mr Reagen Allen, said: “I commend our LEAP officers for the continued commitment they are showing in the various communities where they are deployed. The last two weeks have been extremely difficult with the murders of LEAP officers Zanikhaya Kwinana and Toufeeq Williams.”

“I welcome the arrest of a suspect in the murder of Officer Williams, while assuring the family, loved ones and colleagues of Officer Kwinana that we will leave no stone unturned to find those responsible. LEAP officers work in difficult circumstances, where there are various community complexities. They, along with all those who are working with them have our gratitude,” added Minister Reagen Allen.

LEAP is strategically deployed, and its operations are based on evidence and data. This approach is also used as part of monitoring and evaluation to determine the effectiveness of LEAP and inform a cycle of continuous improvement. This includes our top 10 murder areas in the Western Cape, such as Delft, Gugulethu, Harare, Khayelitsha (Site B policing precinct), Kraaifontein, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga, Philippi East, and Samora Machel. Other high crime areas in which they are deployed are Atlantis, Bishop Lavis and Hanover Park, along with Lavender Hill, Steenberg and Grassy Park.

LEAP officers work with a multitude of law enforcement agencies which is inclusive of other City of Cape Town Law Enforcement agencies, the South African Police Service (SAPS), neighbourhood watches (NHWs), Community Policing Forums (CPFs) and various other stakeholders.

“As the Western Cape Government, we will continue to support our LEAP officers, as through their interventions with various stakeholders, they are ensuring that we work towards our goal which is to decrease the murder rate by 50% by 2029. Cooperation from every sector in society will go a long way in helping us to achieve this goal and in creating safer communities,” concluded Minister Reagen Allen.