Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia Rejects Cape Town’s N2 Barrier Plan, Calling for Visible Policing Over Physical Walls

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says the proposed N2 barrier wall won't stop gang violence, calling for visible policing instead.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 9, 2026, 8:25 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from EWN

National Government Challenges City’s Security Infrastructure

The ongoing debate over the safety of Cape Town’s N2 highway reached a new flashpoint following a parliamentary session on March 4, 2026. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia clarified the South African Police Service's (SAPS) stance on the City of Cape Town’s plan to build a barrier wall along the transit corridor. Cachalia asserted that physical structures are insufficient for curbing organized crime and expressed concern that the project could divert focus from more effective law enforcement strategies.

Limitations of Environmental Design in Crime Prevention

While the City of Cape Town argues that a barrier is necessary to protect motorists from criminals who retreat into roadside communities, the Acting Minister maintains a skeptical view of the project's scope. Cachalia noted that while a wall might limit pedestrian access and reduce "smash-and-grab" incidents, it offers no tactical advantage against the organized criminal syndicates operating deeper within the Cape Flats. According to the Minister, a wall cannot stop firearm-related offenses or the broader public order challenges that plague the area.

The Call for Sustained and Visible Policing

Central to the Minister’s argument is the belief that safety cannot be "built" through architecture alone. Cachalia emphasized that SAPS does not view the barrier project as a viable substitute for sustained, visible policing or enhanced intelligence-led investigations. He argued that an integrated approach—combining environmental design with aggressive prosecutorial action and better community intelligence—is the only way to dismantle gang structures effectively.