Gauteng remains a dangerous place to live due to the rising gang violence and alarming surge in illegal firearms, particularly within coloured communities. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is deeply concerned about this trend. We demand that Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi take decisive action to address the escalating trend that threatens the safety and stability of our communities.
Since September 2024, Gauteng, under the watchful eye of Premier Lesufi, has recorded at least 15 gang-related violent incidents, whilst many go unreported. From drive-by shootings to targeted assassinations, gang violence is no longer isolated; it’s spilling into our neighbourhoods, disrupting lives, and instilling fear. Key hotspot areas include Westbury, Eldorado Park, Orange Farm, Johannesburg South (specifically South Hills, Moffatview, and Chrisville).
At the heart of this wave of violence is one common thread: illegal weapons and firearms. The flood of unregistered, untraceable weapons onto our streets is fuelling turf wars and empowering gangs to act with deadly force and impunity. The response from the Lesufi-led government has been lacklustre. Promises made by the Premier during press conferences and public addresses have not translated into effective policies or initiatives.
The DA demands that the Lesufi-led government take urgent, coordinated, and sustained action to combat gang violence and eliminate illegal firearms. A government that continues to invest millions in CCTV cameras and drones – many of which remain unused – has no excuse for failing to tackle gangs and illegal guns directly terrorising our communities.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would initiate a province-wide drive to recover illegal firearms, offering incentives for anonymous tips and enforcing stricter firearm control laws. We would improve community-police partnerships, including resourcing community safety initiatives and implementing targeted awareness campaigns in areas prone to gang activity. Additionally, we would implement gunshot detection and smart surveillance in hotspot areas to enhance response times and support investigations.
The DA stands in solidarity with communities that have been neglected and left vulnerable to gang-related violence and illegal guns. We are committed to pressuring the Gauteng government to respect the right to safety and security of these communities.