Cape Town's fight against illegal firearms intensifies in Beacon Valley.

In response to rising gun violence in Beacon Valley, JP Smith, the City's mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, has called for an intensified campaign against illegal firearms.

On Wednesday, August 13, Mr Smith, accompanied by Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, urged residents to report illegal firearms through the City of Cape Town’s anonymous tip-off line.

As part of the monthly Mayor’s Blitz, Mr Smith and teams from the Safety and Security Directorate, together with local neighbourhood watches, conducted an awareness drive in Beacon Valley. Residents were encouraged to share information about illegal firearms in their area.

During a walkabout in the neighbourhood, residents were reminded of the City’s Informant Reward System, established in 2013 to address the influx of illegal firearms in Cape Town.

The system offers rewards to individuals who provide information that leads to the arrest or confiscation of illegal firearms, stolen goods, or contraband. The reward was initially set at R1 000 and has since increased to R20 000.

“The Informant Reward System was introduced to assist the City's enforcement services effectively. In recent years, various City departments have faced significant challenges due to theft and vandalism of critical infrastructure, prompting them to utilise the reward system,” Mr Smith said.

He also expressed support for the #SilencingTheGun Campaign, a community initiative by the Nyanga Community Policing Forum's Sub-district aimed at raising awareness about the impact of illegal firearms.

“Since the beginning of the year, our team has removed 215 firearms and over 5 000 rounds of ammunition from the streets. Although the number of confiscated firearms continues to rise, there seems to be an endless supply. While we believe more needs to be done to investigate the suppliers of these firearms, residents can help by reporting their locations. I urge residents to utilise the anonymous tip-off line and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to make our communities safer. If you see something, say something,” he said.

Mayor Hill-Lewis commended the City’s law enforcement efforts but noted they are often hindered by the police. He said Law Enforcement is engaging with the South African Police Service at all levels to strengthen partnerships, but that devolution of powers remains critical.

“The most important action required is from the national police minister, who needs to publish regulations under the SAPS Act to grant criminal investigative powers to municipal officers. We are prepared to submit draft regulations to the minister for consideration and have already workshopped these with SAPS and other stakeholders at a regional level. We stand ready to help secure more convictions for the sake of long-suffering communities, where the poorest and most vulnerable are hardest hit by violent crime,” he said.

Residents are encouraged to report crime and by-law offences anonymously, 24 hours a day, by calling 0800 110 077. For urgent emergency service requests, residents can contact 021 480 7700 from a cell phone or 107 from a landline.