The South African Police Service (SAPS) has vowed to fight fire with fire in the war against violent crime, warning that ruthless criminals who endanger the lives of citizens, police officers, and even elected leaders will be met with decisive force.
This follows a deadly confrontation in Mamelodi East, Stoffelpark extension 15, late Tuesday, where members of the Hawks Tactical Operation Management Section (TOMS), acting on intelligence, cornered a heavily armed group suspected of terrorising communities with illegal firearms.
According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo, the joint operation – involving Hawks TOMS, Gauteng Highway Patrol, the SAPS Airwing, and local Mamelodi police – descended on a house where the suspects were hiding.
Instead of surrendering, the suspects opened fire. Police returned fire in a fierce shootout that left three suspects dead, while one managed to flee. Officers recovered an AR rifle and two pistols, believed to have been used in violent robberies across Pretoria.
“This was not just an ordinary takedown,” said a senior investigator. “These criminals were ready for war. But so were we.”
National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola praised the bravery of officers, insisting that the SAPS will never retreat in the face of violent criminals.
“This is a message to those who think they can terrorise our communities with impunity: we will hunt you down and neutralise the threat you pose,” Masemola said.
On the same day, Masemola issued an urgent directive in the Western Cape after a brazen attack on three Members of Parliament (MPs) in Philippi, including Ian Cameron, the Chairperson of the Police Portfolio Committee.
The suspects ambushed the MPs in broad daylight, leaving the nation shocked at the growing boldness of organised crime. Within hours, police arrested one suspect who was caught seeking medical attention in Lentegeur after sustaining gunshot wounds.
He remains under heavy guard in hospital, while a manhunt is underway for the remaining attackers.
“This was not just an attack on MPs,” Masemola said. “It was an attack on South Africa’s democracy itself. We will not allow criminals to hold our people hostage.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemned the Philippi attack, revealing that MPs Ian Cameron, Lisa Schickerling, and Nicholas Gotsell had just concluded an oversight visit to the local police training college when they were targeted.
Gotsell was hospitalised, but not critically, while Cameron sustained minor injuries. According to the DA, Cameron acted in self-defence to prevent further bloodshed.
“This incident is a portrayal of the out-of-control crime that South Africans face on a daily basis and no one is exempt from it,” said George Michalakis, DA Chief Whip in Parliament.
The DA thanked the City of Cape Town Metro Police, provincial government, and medical response teams for their swift intervention. However, Michalakis laid the blame squarely on government, saying communities like Philippi have long been neglected.
“The DA again calls on the Minister of Police to properly resource SAPS in crime-ridden areas such as Philippi. Policing is a national function, and we will continue to push for adequate resourcing to prevent such incidents and future loss of life,” he said.
The heightened tension comes against the backdrop of police officers themselves being targeted. Earlier this year, Mpho Mouo, a notorious repeat offender, shocked the country when he ambushed and killed two SAPS officers during a botched robbery. His arrest, following a nationwide manhunt, underscored the dangers faced by police daily.
Masemola described the killing of officers as “a direct attack on the State itself” and vowed that criminals would face the “full might of the law.”
According to SAPS figures, more than 70 police officers have been killed since January, many in cold-blooded ambushes.
“We bury our members too often,” said Major General Nonkululeko Phokane, Head of Corporate Communication. “But every funeral strengthens our resolve. Our message is clear: those who raise their guns against the police should not expect to walk away free.”
The Western Cape remains South Africa’s gang crime epicentre, with Philippi, Nyanga, and the Cape Flats plagued by organised syndicates. The Philippi attack has only deepened public fears.
Masemola stressed that SAPS has “elevated operational and intelligence-led strategic interventions” in the province, including the deployment of tactical response units and closer collaboration with community policing forums.
“The gangs want to make people believe they are untouchable,” he said. “We are here to prove them wrong.”
While SAPS has faced criticism in the past for corruption and inefficiency, recent operations – from the Hawks-led Mamelodi shootout, to the swift arrest in Philippi, to the takedown of Mouo – signal what leadership describes as a “zero-tolerance approach.”
Masemola emphasised that crime cannot be beaten by police alone. “Safe communities build business confidence, attract investment, and create jobs. Crime destroys all of that. We are calling on South Africans to unite with us. Every piece of information shared with the police could save a life,” he said.
Crime experts warn that South Africa is at a tipping point. Violent gangs are growing bolder, targeting not just ordinary citizens but lawmakers and police. Yet analysts argue that recent police operations show a service prepared to fight back.
“The police are under siege, but they are fighting back,” said criminologist Professor Themba Khumalo. “The public needs to see results, and operations like the one in Mamelodi are an important statement.”
For Masemola, the message is simple: “This is not a game. If you choose to attack our officers, our citizens, or our leaders, you are choosing a war you cannot win. The South African Police Service will never surrender.”
Quick Facts: South Africa’s War on Crime
- 70+ police officers killed since January 2025 – most in ambush attacks.
- 3 suspects killed in the Mamelodi shootout on Tuesday.
- 1 suspect arrested after Philippi MP ambush, others still on the run.
- Recovered weapons: AR rifle and 2 pistols linked to Pretoria robberies.
- Hotspots of gun violence: Cape Flats, Nyanga, Philippi, Mamelodi.
- Key targets of gangs: Citizens, businesses, police officers, and now elected leaders.
- Police strategy: More tactical units, intelligence-driven raids, stronger community policing forums.
