CAPE TOWN - Western Cape police have confiscated 51 firearms in raids last week alone.
Acting Western Cape Police Commissioner Luyanda Damoyi said although the province had recorded a decrease in violent crime during the 2025/2026 fourth quarter, crime in gang hotspots was still concerning.
"In the first two weeks of July, there have been decreases in terms of gang-related shootings," said Damoyi.
"However, in the third week we started seeing a slight increase again, which we are dealing with," he said.
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In January, eight people were shot dead in a shebeen in Marikana, while two people were arrested. However, CPF and neighbourhood watch members in this area said they are not safe.
"It is hard working here because sometimes we are threatened," said Philippi CPF member Nomampondo Cawe.
"We continue because we want to see the greater Philippi become a better place," she added.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais were on a community walkabout in Philippi over the weekend with law enforcement to stamp their hard stance against crime in the area.
While they have stated that they are happy with the decrease in guns in the streets, they admit a lot more still needs to be done in some communities.
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Winde said more jobs still need to be created to combat crime in the communities.
"I keep saying nothing stops a bullet like a job," Winde said.
In informal settlements, job opportunities are low, causing a rise in criminality.
Police said they want to strengthen their partnerships with city and provincial crime-fighting agencies as well as the army to try to reduce crime levels.