Critical Police Units Paralyzed in South African Metro Amid Gang Violence

Key police units in Nelson Mandela Bay are barely functioning due to a severe vehicle shortage, leaving officers in unsafe conditions. The crisis continues despite a parliamentary directive to rebuild these forces after more than 1,000 gang-related murders in the area since 2019. The metro's Flying Squad, Anti-Gang Unit, and K9 Unit are now close to collapse. Officials report that almost no vehicles are operational, severely hampering emergency responses and crime prevention. South Africa's Parliament previously ordered the national police service to restore these specialized units. However, action group representative Ian Cameron states that no meaningful improvements have occurred on the ground. The ongoing paralysis of these units raises urgent concerns about public safety in a region plagued by prolonged gang warfare.