Maimane: Gangsters cannot have final say
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane says although he feels uncomfortable with the deployment of soldiers in Cape Town, gangsters cannot be allowed have the final say.
Maimane addressed the residents of Bonteheuwel amid the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) gang-infested Cape Flats.
He said while troops on the streets isn’t a permanent solution, the government had no choice as it was busy losing the war against crime.
"It is unsustainable that we depend on the army. It is important to have a South African Police Service with the appropriate equipment to fight crime, we can make sure that those gangsters who are taking the lives of our citizens end up in jail and citizens can live freely."
On Thursday, SANDF troops were deployed to Cape Town’s crime-ridden townships to counter a surge of shootings, gang violence and murders.
A police officer was killed after a lone gunman opened fire on three officers during a patrol in Delft, on the outskirts of Cape Town, on Sunday.