A brazen smash-and-grab incident on Epping Avenue has highlighted the rising crime wave in Elsies River, with a community activist questioning the effectiveness of the City of Cape Town's strategy to combat the crime. According to activist Steve Ross, while cameras and arrests have a role to play, closer cooperation between the City, neighbourhood watches, and community leaders could help prevent attacks before motorists become victims. The City has reported a reduction in smash-and-grab attacks along a section of Van Riebeeck Road, but Ross argues that motorists remain vulnerable at other crime hotspots.
The City of Cape Town has reported that smash-and-grab attacks have dropped from 96 to zero along a section of Van Riebeeck Road following a targeted operation. However, the City has clarified that the reported reduction applies only to the Epping Avenue and Van Riebeeck Road corridor, not the whole of Elsies River. Five suspects were arrested during the operation, which was part of a broader effort to tackle smash-and-grab crime on Cape Town roads. The City's Safety and Security Directorate has emphasized that the operation was focused on a specific area and that the results should not be extrapolated to the entire Elsies River area.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has highlighted the success of the City's investment in technology in reducing smash-and-grab attacks. In a broadcast interview recorded on 8 October, he said that the number of smash-and-grabs on Van Riebeek Road had dropped significantly since the City implemented a targeted operation. The Mayor emphasized the importance of people reporting incidents to help build up case files. However, the City's Safety and Security Directorate has clarified that the Mayor's comments were specific to the Epping Avenue and Van Riebeek Road corridor and should not be taken as a city-wide trend.
Community activist Steve Ross is calling for a more proactive approach to preventing smash-and-grab attacks. He argues that neighbourhood networks already use rapid alert systems to warn people about suspicious activity at known hotspots, and that closer cooperation between the City's command centres and community networks is essential. Ross proposes low-cost physical warning indicators to alert motorists entering areas considered vulnerable to smash-and-grab attacks, such as reflective bands of paint around traffic lights and streetlights on roads leading into Bishop Lavis and Elsies River.
The City's Safety and Security Directorate has rejected suggestions that it plans to keep drones permanently stationed in particular areas. According to Louis Cason, speaking on behalf of the office of safety and security Mayco member JP Smith, drones are used for pre-planned operations and are deployed when required across the Metro for various threats. The City has also expanded its use of aerial technology through specialised units targeting gang crime and extortion. The Freeway Management Unit deploys drones almost daily to monitor highways across Cape Town for smash-and-grab incidents.
Activist Steve Ross is not calling for the City to abandon technology or enforcement, but rather to work more closely with community structures that could alert motorists and authorities to potential threats. He argues that prevention has always been better than cure and that a proactive approach could help prevent attacks before motorists become victims. Ross acknowledges the value of camera systems in identifying suspects after an incident but questions whether enough is being done to prevent attacks in the first place.
The debate highlights the challenges of tackling smash-and-grab crime on Cape Town roads, particularly in areas where motorists and residents remain concerned about safety. The City's efforts to combat crime have shown some success, but activists and community leaders argue that more needs to be done to prevent attacks and ensure public safety. As the City continues to explore new strategies to tackle crime, community activists like Steve Ross are pushing for greater collaboration and a more proactive approach to preventing smash-and-grab attacks.
Key points
- The City of Cape Town has reported a reduction in smash-and-grab attacks along a section of Van Riebeeck Road, but community activists argue that motorists remain vulnerable at other crime hotspots.
- Community activist Steve Ross is calling for closer cooperation between the City, neighbourhood watches, and community leaders to prevent smash-and-grab attacks.
- The City has expanded its use of aerial technology, including drones, to monitor highways and target gang crime and extortion.
