ENFORCING THE LAW - City’s JP Smith threatens to take SAPS to court on over policing powers

THE City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security boss JP Smith is bringing new meaning to the term law enforcement by threatening to take legal action against the South African Police Service (SAPS). 

Smith revealed on Tuesday that the City is ready to take SAPS to court if the City’s law enforcement officers are not given more powers to tackle the skelms driving violent crime innie Kaap.

The issue was discussed during a Mayoral Committee meeting, where councillors received an update on a portfolio committee motion first kicked off in 2025 to push for stronger policing powers. 

Smith is leading the charge for the City to be granted investigative authority in the fight against crime in innie Kaap and said: “I strongly believe we need to proceed with legal action so that we can play a bigger role in the fight against violent crime.

Smith added: “This is a formal process that was initiated to give metro cops more powers to fight serious crime. The type of violence our communities are experiencing are premeditated and executed by professional criminals.

“What the residents in high-crime areas need and deserve are convictions. The criminals behind the violence need to be arrested and removed from society.”

Smith did not hold back when speaking about the state of the criminal justice system, saying it continues to fail communities while serious criminals carry on doing as they please.

And he added that convictions under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) would help clean up the streets.

He said: “The criminal justice system needs to stop fishing for guppies and start deep-sea fishing using POCA and other legislation available to them.”

According to Smith, the constant gatekeeping of policing powers makes no sense when mense are living in fear.

He said: “Why would you not allow us to do more? Allow us to fish legally and with the full support of the criminal justice system so that convictions stick.”

While acknowledging that additional policing powers alone won’t magically fix the crisis, Smith said it would allow law enforcement to hit criminals where it hurts.

He said: “I’m not claiming additional policing powers are the sole solution, but if we can take out a key high flyer each quarter, we can start taking control back.”