The Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) is facing a crisis, with 35 of its members under criminal investigation and 45 facing internal disciplinary proceedings, according to acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia. This revelation comes as gang violence continues to plague the Western Cape, with the South African National Defence Force recently deployed to the Cape Flats to assist the police.
The AGU has been dealing with a significant number of cases, with 203 case dockets in 2022-’23, 97 the following year, 82 in 2024-’25, and 107 dockets in 2025-’26 up until the end of February. The unit has also made a significant number of arrests, with 176 in 2022-’23, 203 in 2023-’24, 245 in 2024-’25, and 268 in 2025-’26, up to February.
Convictions and Dockets
In terms of convictions, the AGU has had some success, with 35 convictions in 2022-’23, 79 in 2023-’24, 43 in 2024-’25, and 49 in 2025-’26, up until February. The unit currently has 784 case dockets at court, according to Cachalia.
Disciplinary Proceedings
The 45 members of the AGU who are facing internal disciplinary proceedings are in addition to the 35 members under criminal investigation. The crimes that the 35 members are accused of were not specified by Cachalia, but 11 members of the unit are standing trial for the alleged murder of a Manenberg gang member.
For more information on the South African police service, visit the South African Police Service website. The Western Cape government has also implemented various initiatives to address gang violence in the province, as outlined on the Western Cape Government website.
- 35 AGU members under criminal investigation
- 45 AGU members facing internal disciplinary proceedings
- 784 case dockets at court
- 268 arrests made by the AGU in 2025-’26, up to February
