Khayelitsha residents march to demand action against gun violence

Approximately 100 residents, community policing forum (CPF) members, and neighborhood watch participants held the “Silencing the Gun Walk” in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, on Saturday. The six-kilometer march proceeded from Thembokwezi Engen Garage through Makhaza to the local police station to demand urgent measures to curb illegal firearm usage.

Community activists and CPF members called for coordinated action from national, provincial, and local governments. Specific demands included strengthening efforts to remove illegal firearms from circulation, improving intelligence-led policing, intensifying investigations into firearm-related crimes, and providing better resources for police, such as additional vehicles and personnel.

Local crime statistics indicate high levels of violence in the area. According to Safe Suburb, the Khayelitsha police station precinct is in the highest national bracket for violent incidents, with 1,547 crimes recorded between April and June 2026, an increase from the 1,522 crimes recorded during the same period in 2025.