Cape Town: Metro Police Officers put a huge count of suspects behind the bars. Around 4,549 suspects apprehended in the last financial year of 2024-25. It is anticipated that the additional staff members coming into the fold from September 2025 and will further boost operational outcomes.
In the past 12 months, Metro Police Officers of Cape Town:
- Made 4,549 arrests
- Recovered 22,751,5 units of drugs, 71 firearms, 50 imitation firearms, 1,150 rounds of ammunition and 67 stolen vehicles
- Issued 166,908 fines for various traffic and by-law transgressions
- Screened 25,922 drivers for alcohol use
- Conducted nearly 7,500 operations
- Responded to 2,215 incidents on the N2 and R300 as part of dedicated hotspot patrols
Also, the Metro Police Officers received 85 attacks on staff members, up from 73 in the previous year, and 64 the year before, representing a 33% increase over the period.
Considering this Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security – Alderman JP Smith said that the increase in attacks is disappointing, but not surprising. They have, in recent years, seen a level of brazenness directed at enforcement services – often from the very communities who demand visible policing.
He also explained that what many fail to appreciate are the very real impacts. Staff need time off to deal with trauma or recover from injury. Damaged vehicles need repairs. This in turn means fewer staff on shift, fewer patrol vehicles, and a less effective enforcement response when it is needed.
Smith declared that in the last two years, the City of Cape Town has started rolling out body worn cameras and in-vehicle cameras to help gather evidence, but also acted as a layer of protection for staff. The cameras can capture staff interactions with the public and any incidents where staff safety may be at risk.
Currently, the Metro Police Department has access to 250 body worn cameras that captured approximately 1,700 hours of footage in a six-month period.
Alderman JP Smith said that it is hoped that, over time, they can use these tools to identify and arrest perpetrators to help send a strong message that these attacks will not be tolerated.
In the coming months, the Metro Police Department will see a significant boost, with 700 new staff members deployed as part of the dedicated ward policing plan. The recruits have completed their training as part of the ‘Project 1000’.
Additionally, 44 additional Metro Police Officers will work on a shift rotation to shore up patrols on the N2 and surrounds.
Smith also cleared that they are looking forward to the additional investments in the Metro Police Department and the broader public safety efforts, but he also want to commend the staff for the work done in the last year.
Notably, the SAPS enforcement space is a challenging one, and to witness the daily successes is a source of immense pride.