The City of Cape Town’s enforcement agencies were kept extremely busy over the week ending 3 May 2026, making 374 arrests over the period.

More than 50 of these were for driving under the influence of alcohol, a major headache on local roads.

An operation against illegal street racing in Bellville South on Sunday night, 3 May 2026 resulted in the arrest of seven people, including two drivers who were intercepted while taking part the race.

The traffic service’s Ghost and Random Breath Testing Units disrupted an illegal gathering in Bellville South also arrested five other motorists at the same event for driving under the influence as a crowd of about 500 people dispersed following the officers’ arrival, the City said in a statement.

“I want to commend the officers for their swift action in breaking up this gathering, but the reality is that these illegal actions are commonplace and a source of frustration and danger to surrounding communities and other road users,” said the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.

In other operations traffic officers recorded 60 arrests – 52 were for driving under the influence of alcohol, five for reckless and negligent driving and three for other offences.

The officers also impounded 142 public transport vehicles and executed 645 warrants of arrest.

Metro police officers made 110 arrests and issued 5 367 traffic and by-law fines.

On Wednesday, 29 April 2026, a CCTV operator spotted a suspect handling a firearm and placing it in a backpack. Metro police were dispatched to investigate and on searching the suspect, they recovered an imitation firearm. The 26-year-old was detained at Grassy Park SAPS.

On the same day, officers recovered another imitation firearm, one live round of ammunition and a small amount of Mandrax and Cocaine after responding to reports of shots being fired in Vlei Road in Belgravia. A 34-year-old male was arrested and detained at Athlone SAPS.

The Anti-Hijacking Unit, meanwhile, recovered at least six vehicles over the long weekend. Two stolen vehicles were found stripped in an informal settlement in Philippi; a third was recovered along Edinburgh Drive in Bishop’s Court and three others in Khayelitsha and Mfuleni.

Law enforcement officers made 204 arrests and issued 8 685 notices during weekly operations.

LEAP officers recovered two firearms. In Manenberg, a 37-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 for possession of a prohibited firearm and on Saturday, 2 May 2026, officers in Gugulethu arrested a 28-year-old for the possession of a prohibited firearm and 14 rounds of ammunition.

The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 638 calls for assistance this past weekend. Of the calls received 86 were physical assault , 39 for domestic violence, 224 noise nuisance complaints and 18 complaints about drinking and fighting in public, said the statement.