‘Criminal culture’ in state institutions blamed for Cape Town violence

An independent criminologist has said that deep-rooted problems within South Africa’s law enforcement and governance systems are contributing to the ongoing violence in Cape Town.

Chris Kanyane’s comments follow a series of shootings across the city over the weekend, including a mass shooting in Lavender Hill that left five people dead and three others wounded, Mihle George reports for EWN.

Gunmen burst into a house in Blode Street at about 8pm on Saturday, 24 October, where people were drinking. Four men and a woman, aged 21 to 33, died at the scene.

Police believe the attack may be gang-related, and the Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit is investigating five counts of murder and three of attempted murder.

Kanyane said the crisis goes beyond a shortage of police resources and reflects a growing criminal culture within state institutions. He said that, in places such as Lavender Hill, Steenberg and Manenberg, it was time to be honest about the police: the problem is not simply that policing is inadequate or under-staffed, but that the system itself has been repurposed, with criminal culture taking root in law enforcement and governance across the country.

The Democratic Alliance said authorities need to rethink their approach to gang violence.

Benedicta van Minnen, the party’s spokesperson on police oversight and community safety, said that simply centralising the response further, shifting resources or announcing another deployment would not work without a clear plan and measurable results.

Police have also rejected claims of negligence at the scene.

ActionSA MP and mayoral candidate, Dereleen James, alleged that biological material was left behind, but police said officers followed crime-scene protocols.

Sources: EWN, 26 October; eNCA; Cape Times, 25 October; IOL, 28 October.