Geordin Hill‑Lewis Pushes for Cape Town’s First Metro Police Detective Unit
Why a Detective Branch Is Needed
Geordin Hill‑Lewis, the DA’s candidate for Cape Town mayor, says the city lacks enough detectives to solve violent crimes. He points out that close to 200 detective posts across Cape Town police stations are empty. Because of those vacancies, cases involving gang shootings, robberies and rapes move slowly or stall completely.
The Trigger: A Tragic Shooting in Delft
Three months ago four people, including a 13‑year‑old boy, were killed on Zandkloof Street in Delft. No arrests have been made. Hill‑Lewis used that incident to stress that such violence should not be accepted as “just how things are” on the Cape Flats.
What the Proposed Unit Would Do
If re‑elected, Hill‑Lewis promises to launch South Africa’s first Metro Police Detective Branch right after the November vote. The unit would:
- Recruit and train Metro Police officers as investigators.
- Focus on gang violence, illegal firearms and drug‑related offences.
- Gather evidence, take statements and build prosecution‑ready dockets.
- Work hand‑in‑hand with SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority to turn arrests into convictions.
He stresses that this is not a distant promise; work would begin the day after the election on 5 November.
Legal Background: What the SAPS Act Allows
Section 64E of the SAPS Act 68 of 1995 outlines the duties of municipal police. It covers traffic control, enforcing local by‑laws and general crime prevention, but it does **not** give municipal forces the power to conduct criminal investigations. Detectives and case investigations remain the responsibility of the South African Police Service.
Because of that, creating a detective capability within Metro Police would need either a new interpretation of the current law or an amendment to the SAPS Act.
City’s Position on Expanded Powers
The City of Cape Town says it already runs a Safety and Security Investigations Unit (SSIU) that looks into firearms, drug and metal theft, attacks on city workers, vandalism, gang activity in municipal housing and internal safety matters. However, those cases must still be handed over to SAPS for further action.
City officials argue that only minor changes to the legal framework are required to let municipal officers take on more investigative work. They suggest using existing regulations under the SAPS Act or, if needed, passing small amendments through Parliament.
The goal is to let Metro Police build stronger cases before they reach prosecutors, especially for gun, gang and drug crimes. The city notes that it confiscates more than 400 illegal firearms each year, yet only about 5 % of those cases end in a conviction when handled solely by SAPS.
Challenges and Possible Legal Action
Hill‑Lewis expects critics to say policing is a national responsibility and that the city should not create its own detective unit. His reply: the city has waited long enough for SAPS to fill the detective gap and will not wait any longer.
He adds that if negotiations fail, the city is prepared to go to court to enforce the cooperation agreement it has with SAPS, insisting that national authorities honour their commitments.
Conclusion
Geordin Hill‑Lewis’s plan aims to close a critical detective shortage in Cape Town by giving Metro Police the authority to investigate serious crimes. If voters back the DA in November, the city could launch South Africa’s first municipal detective branch, working alongside SAPS to gather better evidence, build stronger cases and increase convictions for gang, gun and drug offences. The proposal hinges on adjusting the legal framework, but both the candidate and the city say the change is achievable and necessary for safer streets.
