South African Police Struggle Against Gang Violence Amid Rising Homicide Rates

Fri Jan 23 2026 13:55:56 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a concerning admission, Police Minister Firoz Cachalia acknowledges the South African police's inability to combat increasingly complex gang violence, particularly in Eastern and Western Cape provinces.

Police Minister Firoz Cachalia expressed the South African police's ongoing challenges in combating organized crime and gang violence, particularly in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape. Citing limited resources and the escalating complexities of gang operations, Cachalia highlighted that traditional policing methods are insufficient to handle the crisis. The situation remains dire as homicides associated with gang activity continue to soar, drawing attention to an urgent need for reevaluated strategies in law enforcement.

South Africa's Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has stated that the nation's security forces are currently incapable of defeating the violent and deeply entrenched criminal gangs that plague the country, further highlighting the severity of the ongoing crime crisis.

In his remarks to journalists, Cachalia acknowledged that fatalities from gang violence and robberies contribute significantly to South Africa's status as one of the countries with the highest homicide rates in the world. He noted that gang violence has become more intricate, particularly in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces, necessitating a departure from traditional policing practices.

I do not believe that we are currently in a position to defeat these gangs, Cachalia remarked on Wednesday.

As the most industrialized nation in Africa, South Africa has been plagued by persistent organized crime. While many citizens possess licensed firearms for their protection, the number of illegal weapons in circulation has skyrocketed. Police statistics indicate an alarming average of 63 murders daily between April and September of the previous year.

Cachalia, after visiting crime-ridden Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape, noted that gangs are on a killing spree in the regions, with extortion and gang violence being significant issues.

Despite the establishment of an anti-gang unit in 2019, the rise of gang violence persists, prompting a call for the re-evaluation of current policing strategies. Cachalia emphasized that addressing organized crime should not turn into a point-scoring exercise among law enforcement agencies.

As the wave of violence continues, with 118 deaths reported in Nelson Mandela Bay from August to December last year, a pressing need exists for stronger law enforcement tactics to combat the rampant gang activity, which President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed to address with increased police efforts.