CAPE TOWN, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The deployment of troops has led to a decline in the number of murders in gang-infested areas in the Western Cape province, authorities said on Monday.
A total of 25 murders were recorded over the weekend by the forensic pathology services unit in the Western Cape, compared with 43 last weekend, and 55 in the weekend prior, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said.
Of the 25 people murdered, 18 were shot, four were stabbed and three were killed through other causes, Winde said.
The City of Cape Town reported five deaths, three in Mitchell's Plain and two in Khayelitsha. The two towships are among the 10 communities where troops were deployed to help quell gang violence.
Troops began deployment last Thursday in areas in Cape Town and other metros in the Western Cape to combat gangs which have been spiralling out of control.
Residents in some areas reported that the weekend had been mostly peaceful, according to Winde.
The number of 25 murders "is still too many, but we are pleased to see that the presence of the army is having some impact in our communities which are tired of crime and living in fear," Winde said.
He appealed to police to continue to make maximum use of this period of relative stability to catch the culprits who are driving crime and disorder in the communities.
"From the Western Cape government's side, we will be working on a long-term plan to address the root causes of crime, to stimulate more economic opportunities, and to ramp up services to high crime communities," he said.
He stressed the need for all departments concerned to play a role in ensuring that communities are supported and both the impact and the allure of crime are reduced.
Winde also urged South African Police Minister Bheki Cele to ensure proper allocation of police resources in the Western Cape.
Confronted by rising crimes, the Western Cape province's police force is dramatically under-resourced compared to other provinces run by the ruling African National Congress (ANC), according to Winde.
The Western Cape, the only province run by an opposition party, has requested more police officers but to no avail.
While one officer must protect 375 people on average nationally, in the Western Cape, the ratio is 1:509.
"We have seen from this weekend the impact of having additional resources on the ground, and a tactical response to crime fighting and crime prevention," Winde said.
"By increasing visible policing and intelligence-led investigations, we can start to root out criminals," he said.
