South African police conduct mass raid in Cape Town crime hotspot
October 14, 2022
3 Min Read
Updated 2022/10/14 at 9:58 PM
Law enforcement officials search residents in the Marikana informal settlement, in what the Cape Town mayor's office describes as the "biggest anti-crime operation" in the city's history, in which more than 750 law enforcement officers from various units have been deployed, in the Marikana informal settlement and surroundings, in Cape Town, South Africa, October 12, 2022. REUTERS/Esa Alexander
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Rifles in hand and dogs in tow, hundreds of uniformed police descended on townships and settlements in Cape Town for a two-day raid on one of South Africa’s most violent areas.
High rates of unemployment and drug abuse in the crime-ridden Cape Flats area have fuelled activity by gangs who City of Cape Town said extort protection money from residents.
More than 750 officers, canine units and helicopters were deployed in the raid on Wednesday and Thursday. Several people were arrested, authorities said.