Western Cape MEC of Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais has condemned the recent attacks on Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers in Hanover Park, Cape Town. The incident occurred on March 10, when LEAP officers responded to gang-related gunfire in the area.
According to reports, the officers were met with violence from community members, who allegedly threw stones at them and attempted to attack them in an effort to prevent a suspect from being arrested. Two officers were struck with stones but were not seriously injured. The suspect, who was found with a .38 Special revolver, was released due to safety concerns.
Pattern of Community Interference
Marais expressed concern over the pattern of community interference in the arrest of suspected offenders. She stated that this was not the first incident of its kind in Hanover Park, referring to a similar incident on February 17, where LEAP Reaction Unit members were attacked by community members, allowing a suspect to escape.
The LEAP officers returned to the area later that evening, in a coordinated operation with members from Gugulethu and Nyanga, but were unable to locate the suspect. At about 11pm, officers were alerted to a shooting in Summit Road, where they found a man who had been fatally shot.
Condemnation and Concern
Marais condemned the attacks on LEAP officers, stating that it was troubling to see communities affected by violent crime interfering with efforts to arrest suspected offenders. She emphasized that the individuals responsible for these shootings were the same perpetrators who continue to terrorize residents and contribute to the tragic loss of life on the Cape Flats.
For more information on the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan, visit the Western Cape Government website. The South African Police Service can be contacted through their official website, SAPS.
- 2 LEAP officers injured in the attack
- 1 suspect escaped due to community interference
- 1 man fatally shot in a separate incident
