Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais, and Western Cape CPF Board Chairperson Francina Lukas during the release of the province’s fourth quarter crime statistics in Cape Town on Thursday.
Western Cape SAPS on Thursday reported an 8% decrease in murders across the province during the first three months of 2026, but the release of the latest crime statistics came amid ongoing deadly shootings, gang violence, and extortion-linked killings weeks after Operation Prosper was launched.
Speaking during the release of the province’s fourth quarter crime statistics in Cape Town, Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile said while reductions had been recorded in several violent crime categories, crime levels in the province remained alarmingly high.
"Despite the reduction recorded, crime is still high. Violent crimes are exceptionally high in the Western Cape," Patekile said.
"Illegal firearms continue to drive murders, attempted murders, robberies, and other violent crimes."
