CAPE TOWN — The push to grant expanded powers to the Cape Town Metro Police has gained momentum following support from the SAPS Western Cape Commissioner. City officials argue that empowering the metro force will significantly improve conviction rates for serious crimes across the city.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has officially welcomed the stance of retiring SAPS Western Cape Commissioner Thembisile Patekile, who expressed support for expanding the city’s metropolitan police capabilities. Speaking in an interview that briefly encountered audio transmission issues, the city’s MMC for Safety and Security, JP Smith, noted that the metro police already work closely with SAPS at the local and provincial levels. According to Smith, the local authority has consistently demonstrated its value by assisting in removing drugs and illegal firearms from the streets, as well as tackling extortion and kidnapping for ransom.
The proposed expansion is strictly defined as an increase in capabilities rather than a devolution of policing, specifically regarding offenses such as drunk driving and assault. Smith highlighted a critical operational bottleneck: currently, when metro officers make an arrest for an illegal firearm, the case is handed over to SAPS. Due to overloaded detectives and forensic backlogs, many cases are ultimately withdrawn. The city currently removes approximately 500 illegal guns from the streets annually but faces a mere 4.7% conviction rate, resulting in 95 out of every 100 arrested individuals being released without consequence.
To address this, the metro police are requesting the authority to investigate cases where they are the arresting officers. This includes taking on ballistics testing to prepare prosecution-ready cases for the National Prosecuting Authority. Smith confirmed that the city has already made initial investments in investigative resources and has received offers from various companies and governments to donate ballistic equipment. Furthermore, the city already employs qualified staff capable of conducting these forensic tests to the exact same standards as SAPS.
The push for expanded powers comes in the context of severe gang violence, which contributes to roughly a fifth or more of Cape Town’s murder rate. While the retiring provincial commissioner is favorably disposed to the expansion, the national government’s position has been less cooperative. Smith recounted a meeting nearly a year ago with the national minister, referred to in the broadcast as Minister Kachalia, alongside the MEC, premier, and mayor. Although initially positively inclined, subsequent correspondence from the national minister has been unfavorable.
Despite this national pushback, Smith pointed to previous willingness from the national executive, noting that President Ramapora previously demonstrated support by traveling to Cape Town to sign a cooperation agreement at Erica Park. However, with the national minister denying the request for expanded powers, Mayor Hill-Lewis has instructed legal advisors to initiate litigation. The city plans to approach the courts to argue that the minister’s denial is irrational and not in the public interest, a move Smith believes could benefit other municipalities facing similar restrictions.
Addressing opposition to the expansion, Smith systematically debunked three primary arguments. First, against claims of the “criminalization of poverty,” he argued that arresting individuals threatening communities with illegal firearms is a matter of public safety, not poverty. Second, regarding claims that municipalities are incapable of handling increased powers, he noted that the national government has steadily ceded various enforcement powers to local authorities over time. These include the Secondhand Goods Act for metal theft, marine enforcement, and drug, gang, and liquor enforcement. He added that international best practice favors local government running police forces.
Finally, countering concerns over a lack of oversight, Smith emphasized that local government is subject to all national oversight mechanisms plus additional local bodies, such as civilian oversight committees and provincial portfolio committees. He cited reports from Corruption Watch and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), which were transcribed in the interview as “iPad reports,” indicating that corruption rates within the Cape Town Metro Police are markedly lower than those experienced by the national force.
In a separate legal matter, Smith confirmed that the city is planning to sue SAPS for millions of rands. This litigation stems from unlawful raids that were previously ruled invalid, unconstitutional, and illegal by the courts. Smith, alongside Zante Lindberg, is pursuing the lawsuit to address the lasting reputational damage caused by the invalidated operations.
