The City of Cape Town has launched a new specialised SWAT team and Metro Police Aviation unit to tackle gang violence, extortion, and high-risk arrests. The units were launched on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Safety and Security MMC JP Smith. The SWAT team is equipped with advanced technology, including drones, aircraft, thermal cameras, and artificial-intelligence tracking technology. This launch is part of the City's efforts to enhance its policing capacity and make Cape Town safer.
The new SWAT team is comprised of highly skilled officers with extensive experience in the SAPS Special Task Force. They are equipped with an armoured vehicle, modern firearms, night vision, and heat detection technology. The team will work closely with the Metro Police Aviation unit, which will provide air support using aircraft and drones to patrol crime hotspots, track suspects, and assist with search-and-rescue operations. The aviation unit's technology includes thermal and zoom cameras, AI-assisted tracking, and laser rangefinders.
The launch of the SWAT team and aviation unit comes after the City faced criticism over its plans to establish the unit, with some accusing the DA-led administration of investing in "military-style" policing. However, Mayor Hill-Lewis defended the City's growing policing capacity, citing the need for greater powers to tackle gang, gun, and drug crime. He also highlighted the City's broader safety investments, including the addition of over 1 300 new City police officers, a new Highway Patrol unit, and a major safety technology rollout.
The SWAT team and aviation unit will feed live information into the City's new Joint Policing Services Operational Centre (JPSOC), a digital "nerve centre" that will integrate various safety technologies, including drones, body cameras, vehicle cameras, ANPR technology, and CCTV. The centre will provide a real-time operational picture to improve situational awareness and inform decision-making. MMC JP Smith said that almost 3 000 body cameras would soon be deployed, while 530 enforcement vehicles already have in-vehicle cameras with ANPR technology.
The Metro Police Aviation unit has already been involved in several successful operations, including arrests and search-and-rescue operations in Delft, Somerset West, Strand, Tafelsig, and Elsies River. Smith said that air support is a "force multiplier" that widens what officers can see and shortens the time to a confident, safe decision. The unit's technology has been used to track suspects and assist with search-and-rescue operations.
Mayor Hill-Lewis emphasised the City's commitment to making Cape Town safer, saying that they would "stop at nothing" to build their resources and powers. He also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the City and its residents in tackling crime. The launch of the SWAT team and aviation unit is part of the City's efforts to enhance its policing capacity and provide a safer environment for its residents.
The City's safety investments have been expanded to include a new state-of-the-art digital nerve centre to coordinate all City policing operations. The centre will integrate various safety technologies to provide a real-time operational picture. With the launch of the SWAT team and aviation unit, the City is taking a proactive approach to tackling high-risk crimes and making Cape Town a safer place to live.
Key points
- The City of Cape Town has launched a new specialised SWAT team and Metro Police Aviation unit to combat high-risk crimes.
- The units are equipped with advanced technology, including drones, aircraft, thermal cameras, and artificial-intelligence tracking technology.
- The launch is part of the City's efforts to enhance its policing capacity and make Cape Town safer.
