LEAP officers recover assault rifle in Gugulethu

30 June 2025

The discovery came on the back of a mass shooting in Gugulethu in the early hours of Saturday that left seven people dead.

On Saturday evening, officers attached to the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) were on patrol in Gugulethu when they stopped a vehicle during stop and search operations.

Officers spotted a silver VW Polo, and while the driver initially tried to get away, he was quickly pulled over. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded assault rifle. The driver and passenger were arrested and detained at Gugulethu SAPS.

'The City has redeployed additional policing resources to support SAPS operations targeting known gang and extortion hotspots. The kind of firepower in the hands of criminals is of grave concern. The use of assault rifles is becoming far too commonplace, in Cape Town, but also elsewhere in the country. We simply need to stem the flow of guns onto our streets and into the wrong hands and the City is ready to step up and play a bigger role if given more policing power,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

In general enforcement efforts over the past week, the City’s enforcement agencies made 204 arrests and recorded 18 654 traffic and by-law offences.

Law Enforcement Officers made 145 arrests and issued 6 075 notices for various offences.

Traffic officers arrested 12 motorists - 11 for driving under the influence and one for reckless and negligent driving. They also recorded 18 352 offences, impounded 185 public transport vehicles and executed 951 warrants of arrest.
Metro Police Officers arrested 47 suspects and confiscated drugs which included mandrax, dagga and heroin.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) recorded 1 546 incidents over the weekend, including 99 cases of assault, 59 cases of domestic violence and 82 motor vehicle and pedestrian vehicle accidents.

‘The uptick in assault, domestic violence and road accidents is par for the course on a payday weekend. While the adverse weather kept many people indoors or prompted them to stay off the roads, it didn’t mean a quiet weekend for officers. They are prepared for the mayhem of the last and first weekends of the month, as recklessness and lawlessness spike at this time. I want to encourage residents to keep moderation in mind as more wet weather is predicted for the rest of the week,' added Alderman Smith.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office