Cape Town: Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has called on Acting Police Minister – Firoz Cachalia to urgently engage with the City of Cape Town team over its request for Metro Police officers to receive greater powers to investigate gang, gun and drug-related crime.
The Mayor said that the Acting Minister had yet to respond to the intergovernmental dispute of the city, which was formally lodged on July 29, 2026. According to the City of Cape Town, the dispute legally requires both parties to promptly begin engagement and determine a mediation process under Section-42 of the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act.
Hill-Lewis said that the lack of engagement was concerning, particularly as communities across the Cape Town that will continue to face serious gang violence, illegal firearms and drug-related crime.
Currently, the City of Cape Town is seeking an amendment to the SAPS Act Amendment Bill before Parliament. It strongly believes that such an amendment could provide a practical route to expand the investigative powers of Metro Police and allow local law enforcement officers to support the South African Police Service (SAPS) in securing more criminal convictions.
“In good faith, we will presume the Minister was not available for the initial dispute mediation dates we proposed,” said Mayor Lewis. Also, he had to written to the Minister again to suggest new dates for an initial online meeting.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis further stated that the City of Cape Town was waiting for an urgent response and stressed that Metro Police officers were ready to take on additional responsibilities in support of SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The call followed recent comments by Cachalia before the Police Portfolio Committee, where he reportedly said he had an “open mind” regarding the possibility of granting investigative powers to Metro Police. However, he indicated that cross-party consensus would be needed.
Hill-Lewis questioned that the need for further consensus-building, arguing that the Minister could show leadership by amending the Bill already before Parliament.
He also referred to Section-205 of the Constitution, which provides for legislation to establish a framework for policing powers and functions to be exercised by a police service in the local government sphere where appropriate.
According to Hill-Lewis, Cape Town has repeatedly demonstrated that its Metro Police are adequately prepared, equipped and resourced to investigate specific categories of crime.
Meanwhile, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security – Alderman JP Smith said that expanding crime-fighting powers to agencies outside SAPS was not without precedent. He pointed to additional crime prevention powers granted to municipal peace officers in 2018, which contributed to the establishment of the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP).
Smith stated that LEAP had demonstrated the potential impact of local government involvement in crime prevention. He also highlighted a recent operation in Nyanga, during which LEAP officers made an arrest and confiscated four semi-automatic rifles.
The City of Cape Town said that it is already supporting SAPS through its Safety and Security Investigation Unit and information management systems. Lewis said that the proposed mediation process presented an opportunity for government to find a solution that prioritises the safety of Cape Town residents and avoids the need for court action.