House Chairperson,
The ACDP stands with the residents of the Northern areas of Nelson Mandela Bay, who face an escalating crisis of gang violence, marked by governance breakdown and criminal infiltration. Crime research reveals that state functions are increasingly usurped by criminal syndicates, with violence spiralling in areas like Bethelsdorp and Gelvandale, where homicide rates rival those in some Central American countries.
A disturbing pattern known as “Gemors” Gangsterism has emerged, involving indiscriminate attacks on civilians to instill fear.
Allegations persist, of gang bosses colluding with politicians, enabling impunity and even access to state contracts for criminal syndicates.
Children as young as nine are recruited with drugs, while firearms many from SAPS itself, fuel cycles of territorial churn, driving killing, recruitment, and fragmentation.
The ACDP commends the progress made, with over 1300 arrests made for serious organised crime in 2024/25; thirty drug labs dismantled and over R324 million worth of drugs, seized. We commend the Hawks for securing 220 convictions for organised crime and welcome the expansion of SAP’s Anti-Gang Units to all provinces.
We support the Portfolio Committee’s call for the doubling of Anti-Gang Unit personnel, the expansion of ShotSpotter surveillance and drone capacity, and deeper interdepartmental collaboration.
No South African, whether in Bethelsdorp, Gelvandale or anywhere else, should fear gangsterism in their communities. Safety is not a privilege; it is a constitutional promise and must be restored with strength and immediacy.
I thank you.
