Today the Western Cape Provincial Parliament Standing Committee on Community Safety was briefed by the South African Police Service and the Western Cape Department of Community Safety on the implementation of recommendations of the O’Regan Commission of Inquiry into policing in Khayelitsha. The briefing revealed that vigilante killings in Khayelitsha have been reduced significantly despite the many challenges the SAPS face in the area.

The SAPS revealed in the Committee today that at all three Khayelitsha stations, vigilante killings have reduced since 2014. Prior to 2014, the SAPS did not keep accurate records of this type of crime, but following the Commission of Inquiry recommendations has since started keeping statistics. These statistics show decreases in vigilante murders and attempted murders at all three stations over the last 3 years.

This is significant and a positive development. The Commission was established in large part as a result of the high number of vigilante killings in Khayelitsha. This is an important milestone in making Khayelitsha safer for residents. The SAPS, the Department of Community Safety and the community of Khayelitsha must be commended for this reduction in vigilante crime.