WESTERN Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has called for an integrated approach against gun violence in and around Cape Town.

This follows a call by the non-profit organization, Fight Against Crime SA (FACSA), to the South African government to implement a multi-sector strategy to stop the carnage of innocent people.

Marais said in a statement she was outraged at the high levels of gun-related crime in Cape Town.

Several people died in a number of recent shootings across the city in recent weeks.

The Minister stated: “The proliferation of guns and ammunition is a major contributor to gang-related killings in Cape Town.

“The South African Police Service (SAPS) must work closer with municipal law enforcement agencies, including Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers, to prioritise getting illegal guns off our streets and ensure perpetrators of gun-related crimes are successfully prosecuted.”

 She said community-based organisations, such as neighbourhood watches, also play a critical role in addressing crime and called for closer collaboration “in addressing this scourge”.