Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has announced a proposal to establish what would become South Africa's first Metro Police Detective Branch if the Democratic Alliance retains control of the City in the upcoming local government elections.

The announcement formed part of the party's Stronger Policing Pledge and was made in Delft, at the site of a fatal gang-related shooting in April 2026 in which four people, including a 13-year-old boy, were killed.

Hill-Lewis argued that municipalities should be given greater authority to investigate serious crimes, saying communities on the Cape Flats should not have to accept persistent violent crime as an unavoidable reality.

According to the proposal, Cape Town's Metro Police would take on investigative responsibilities that are currently performed by the South African Police Service (SAPS), with the intention of improving the effectiveness of criminal investigations and strengthening the City's response to violent crime.

However, the proposal has generated significant legal and policy debate because criminal investigations are presently a national policing function under South African law.

Legal experts and policing specialists have cautioned that expanding municipal policing powers without clear legislative changes could create jurisdictional conflicts, duplication of responsibilities and increased opportunities for corruption or abuse of authority.

The proposal therefore raises broader questions about the future structure of policing in South Africa, the balance of power between national and local government, and whether decentralising investigative functions would improve public safety or create additional governance challenges.The issue is expected to remain a prominent topic during the local government election campaign.