NO MORE BLOODSHED, NO MORE EXCUSES: SOUTH AFRICA DEMANDS A NATIONAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO GANG VIOLENCE For decades, South Africa’s most vulnerable and marginalised communities have been held hostage by gang violence—a crisis fuelled by systemic neglect, political failure, and economic apartheid. The Cape Crime Crisis Coalition (C4), a broad-based social movement representing citizens, activists, civil society, and grassroots leaders, issues an unequivocal demand: President Cyril Ramaphosa must immediately establish an independent, National Commission of Inquiry into gang violence, with a primary focus on all of the communities across the country beset by gang violence. This is not a request. It is a moral and strategic imperative. GANGSTERISM IS A NATIONAL EMERGENCY THAT HAS BEEN IGNORED FOR TOO LONG Gangsterism is not a "Western Cape problem." It is also not a "Coloured problem." It is a national security crisis, metastasising across provinces, destroying lives, and entrenching criminal rule in working-class communities. The Western Cape’s murder rate is among the highest in the world, driven by gang warfare, illegal guns, drug trafficking, extortion and state corruption. "Western Cape continues to record the highest number of gang-related murders, with 263 counts reported in this quarter alone. This is completely unacceptable and it must change..." (Minister Mchunu, February 2025, on releasing the third quarter crime stats). Despite this acknowledgment, the Western Cape Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile declared, subsequent to the Minister's statement, that the situation was "under control". KwaZulu-Natal has seen a terrifying rise in brazen gang executions, with criminals operating as if they are above the law. Gauteng and the Eastern Cape are engulfed in extortion rackets, armed robberies, and gang recruitment targeting children as young as 10. This is not only criminal—it is low-intensity warfare, and the South African state is losing. WHY HAVE ALL OTHER INTERVENTIONS FAILED? The government’s response has been a catastrophic cycle of broken promises, corruption, and short-term policing stunts. In June 2024 the Minister of Police has listed "gang violence" as one of his priorities, but we have not seen any tangible evidence of interventions in this regards yet. The Anti-Gang Unit (AGU), launched in November 2018, is under-resourced, and compromised by police collusion. The Minister has signed agreements between SAPS, provincial governments and metros, the first being signed in the Western Cape. Communities and the public at large are eagerly waiting to see the positive outcomes of this initiative. Meanwhile, gangs operate as parallel governments, controlling communities through violence and fear, extorting money out of citizens businesses - even health facilities and schools. Their activities have even affected the operations of schools and the delivery of basic services. NO MORE DELAYS. NO MORE LIVES LOST. Every day without action means: Another child murdered. Another mother burying her son. Another community abandoned. We demand: ✅ Immediate establishment of the Commission—no political interference. ✅ Full transparency—public hearings, victim testimonies, forensic audits. ✅ Binding outcomes—no more ignored reports. The Cape Crime Crisis Coalition is currently consulting with a wide range of citizens, communities, faith leaders, civil society organisations and movements across the country to support our call for such a Commission of Inquiry. THE TIME FOR EXCUSES IS OVER. President Ramaphosa, the ball is in your court. Will you act, or will more blood be on your hands? Use the email address C4Coalition@gmail.com to: ● indicate your support and that of your organisation for a Commission of Enquiry ● Provide input or request more information ● Establish contact with C4